DailyWorld News - The First International Newspaper From India https://dailyworld.in/ Mon, 05 Jan 2026 19:21:06 +0530 en https://dailyworld.in/international/taiwan-accuses-china-of-transnational-repression-after-state-media-targets-dpp-lawmaker-657169.html Taipei Jan 5 Taiwanese government has accused China of transnational repression after Chinese state media and social media accounts shared personal information regarding Democratic Progressive Party DPP Legislator Puma Shen which included satellite pictures of his house and workplace in Taipei local media reported Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Chinas statecontrolled media were using digital authoritarianism and the despicable way of doxxing to threaten Taiwanese trying to create fear and a chilling effect in democratic society of Taiwan Taiwans daily Taipei Times reportedIn a post shared on Facebook on January 2 Strait Plus a media channel operated by a Chinese statecontrolled media organisation wrote that a Chinese influencer had revealed the location of Shenâs house and workplace According to the post the influencer said that she had paid for commercial satellite imagery of Taipei and marked Shenâs house and workplace on itShe said that Chinaâs Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau in 2025 had declared Puma Shen as âwantedâ amid a probe into alleged âsecessionrelatedâ criminal activities in TaiwanThe ministry said that the actions of Strait Plus violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy family home or correspondence nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks quoting Article 12 of the UN document as per the reportThe ministry stated that organisations post was an invasion of personal privacy that crossed the line of civility adding that the behaviour was beneath contemptTaiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Chinaâs transnational repression harassment and interventions targeting Taiwan and other countries have seriously contravened the principles of international law and international human rights norms explicitly displaying how the Beijing authority ignores the fundamental values of human rights and privacy of a civilized society adding that China and Taiwan are not subordinate to each other and that China has no jurisdiction over people of TaiwanThe ministry announced that it would increase emergency response and rescue mechanisms at its missions abroad to ensure the safety of people of Taiwan adding that it has urged other nations to condemn Chinaâs human rights infringement and to call for ending its abusive longarm jurisdiction and transnational repression Taipei Times reportedMeanwhile Taiwans Ministry of Digital Affairs termed the incident a case of cyberbullying which includes doxxing and digital coercion and urged people to resist entities that are involved in such behaviour and avoid spreading hate speech on social media platforms It stated that marking the residence of a person on commercial satellite imagery and making the picture is a serious violation of personal privacy and against the law The ministry announced that it has urged Meta to remove the content that involves threats to personal safetyIn a post shared on Facebook Puma Shen stated that China carried out a âprecision attackâ against him as its recent military exercises were ineffective in intimidating Taiwanese He said that the stock market continued to rise while Taiwan continues to debunk rumours about issues with national defence enraging China He said that China is trying to create fear among people of Taiwan as if they have informants everywhere however he stressed that this type of psychological warfare is not working in Taiwan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/taiwan-accuses-china-of-transnational-repression-after-state-media-targets-dpp-lawmaker-657169.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-faisalabad-witnesses-soaring-crime-rate-in-2025-657173.html Islamabad Jan 5 Over 15000 incidents of robbery snatching and theft were reported in Pakistans Faisalabad in 2025 with people facing a financial loss of more than Pakistani Rupees PKR 305 billion according to police statistics compiled at the close of the year local media reported In 2025 police lodged 75576 cases of different categories demonstrating lawandorder pattern in the district Faisalabad police has claimed a drop in crime compared to 2024 despite the high number of reported crime incidents Pakistans leading daily The Express Tribune reportedAs many as 15593 cases of robbery street crime and theft were recorded in 2025 The Express Tribune reported citing data These crimes included 6124 cases of robbery on highways 1420 incidents of snatching 56 robberies and 56 cases involving road blockadesFurthermore criminals also targetted 145 houses and 245 commercial establishments like shops petrol pumps and jewellery shops While committing these crimes robbers killed 14 people who resisted and injured 98 others The Express Tribune reportedCriminals snatched 1234 motorcycles eight cars and 19 other vehicles while organised theft gangs stole 5864 motorcycles 47 cars and 356 other vehiclesAs many as 311 murders were reported in Faisalabad in 2025 which included 14 killings linked to socalled honour 11 to personal enmity and eight to land disputes involving gunfire and axe attacks Furthermore 483 people were injured in firingrelated incidents in FaisalabadA total of 119 police encounters with criminals occurred in 2025 resulting in the killing of 63 alleged robbers while 91 others were injured Four police personnel were killed while five others were injured during these encountersPolice also recorded kidnapping of 562 married women and 902 young women 613 men and 238 children A total of 730 cases of sexual assault against women were reported in Faisalabad and 260 cases involved attempt sexual abuse of childrenOver 300 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2025 According to the report district police arrested 5203 suspects and seized drugs worth billions of rupees during operations against narcotics Police also recovered94473 million in cash and stolen property from criminals which was given back to rightful ownersMeanwhile Pakistans Karachi reported over 4700 street crimes in November local media reported citing the data released by the Citizen Police Liaison Committee CPLCAccording to the report 160 incidents involved vehicle thefts and snatching while there were 3143 cases of motorcycle thefts in November Armed robbers also snatched mobile phones from 1403 people at gunpoint Pakistanbased ARY News reportedFurthermore one case of kidnapping for ransom and 15 cases of extortion were reported in Karachi The city also reported 39 incidents of murder and other violent crimes in November IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-faisalabad-witnesses-soaring-crime-rate-in-2025-657173.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-37-pc-growth-figure-likely-an-accounting-illusion-report-657176.html New Delhi Jan 5 Pakistans official figures citing 37 per cent economic growth in Q1 FY26 is likely an accounting illusion on paper rather than real increases in production or exports a report has said A report from Express Tribune cited the think tank Economic Policy and Business Developments EPBD view that the growth approved by the National Accounts Committee NAC reflects methodological artefacts deflator manipulation and importled assembly activity instead of real gains in productive capacityThe forum called the data an attempt at an illusion of recovery while business activity manufacturing output and exports remain under pressurePrimarily the official headline figure of 94 per cent industrial growth largely stemmed from accounting adjustments the think tank said Electricity gas and water supply was recorded as having grown 25 per cent growth but it was fuelled by subsidies jumping from Pakistani Rupees PKR 20 billion to PKR 118 billion rather than higher output it saidConstruction mentioned to have grown 21 per cent is unlikely as cement production rose by only 15 per cent while transportrelated imports more than doubled including an extraordinary spike in bus and truck imports it addedFood exports fell sharply by 258 per cent during Q1FY26 while food imports surged by 188 per cent yet agriculture and food manufacturing were reported to have expanded Agriculture it said grew 29 per cent despite flood impacts stagnant crop output and the absence of a wheat harvest during the quarterEPBD pointed to big gaps between domestic growth claims and trade indicators The report said that imports rose 11 per cent in the first half of the year while exports declined around 9 per cent reinforcing concerns that the economy lacks sustainable privatesectorled growthCotton production declined ginning dropped by over 12 per cent and cottonbased exports fell around 10 per cent it noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-37-pc-growth-figure-likely-an-accounting-illusion-report-657176.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-2026-begins-with-the-sound-of-boots-not-diplomacy-657014.html New Delhi Jan 4 As US troops swooped down on Venezuela in a stealth night operation flashes of Indias own Operation Sindoor inevitably surfaced in the public imagination The Indian Armed Forces from May 710 2025 carried out a successful precision operation in Pakistan and Pakistanoccupied Kashmir followed by airstrikes across 11 Pakistani airbasesIt is tempting almost cathartic to ask What if India had gone further What if the terror masterminds sheltered by Pakistan Hafiz Saeed Masood Azhar Dawood Ibrahim or even its powerful Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had been scooped out in a similar fashionFor many Indians this is not merely a hypothetical question It reflects a longsimmering frustration with a neighbour that has perfected the art of exporting terror while playing the victim on global platformsFor most of this period New Delhi exercised restraint It was only after 2014 that this posture decisively changed with punitive yet calibrated responses becoming a declared policy Even this shift was framed within existing international norms avoiding actions that could be seen as unilateral overreach It is precisely this restraint that makes the Venezuela developments impossible to ignoreAgainst this backdrop the US action in Venezuela came as a shock to the global conscience When the US President announced that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country following a successful largescale strike and the country being taken over disbelief turned into uneaseSeveral countries including Russia and China expressed concern stressing that Venezuelans must be allowed to determine their destiny without destructive military intervention from outsideThe disturbing question that followed was simple yet profound how can one country enter another sovereign nation and capture its President and take over a country It felt like a return to ancient times when kings were seized territories subjugated and power determined by brute force rather than international norms This is 2026 barely days into the new year and such actions lay out an unsettling framework for the future of global politicsWhat makes the episode more jarring is the contrast with the rhetoric that preceded it On New Years Eve at his MaraLago estate in Florida US President Donald Trump proclaimed peace peace on Earth as his resolution for the year standing beside First Lady Melania TrumpFour days later the world witnessed an unprecedented action which the US is justifying with its own claims Maduro has been charged with narcoterrorism cocaine importation conspiracy firearms offences and related crimes The illegal conduct is alleged to have begun around 1999 and continued through 2025 according to the US authoritiesThe justifications apart the world cannot forget the Iraq war and the US claims on Saddam Hussein were finally found to be untrue years later But in between Iraq was destroyed and aided in the birth and growth of terror elements like ISIS Even in Afghanistan after decades of a mission the US finally abandoned the place with the brutal radical Taliban taking overHow the US Maduro mission proceeds is to be seen but the dissonance between words and action could not have been starkerWhile leaders institutions and international organisations routinely speak of peace the reality unfolding across continents tells a different story Conflict zones continue to smoulder without resolutionThe wars in RussiaâUkraine and IsraelâGaza show no sign of abating Tensions in Southeast Asia including flashpoints like VietnamâCambodia threaten to spiral Instead of deescalation more regions appear to be sliding into cycles of violence instability and strategic brinkmanshipThe year 2026 far from offering a fresh start opens amid rising global anxiety Power is increasingly being asserted unilaterally norms are being bent or ignored and military might is once again becoming the preferred language of influenceFor India these global tremors are not distant abstractions Trouble brews dangerously close to home Bangladesh once hailed as a development success story is witnessing a disturbing descent into chaosThe Hindu minority there is under sustained attack reports of killings intimidation and displacement are mounting Radical Islamist elements emboldened by political instability are pushing an aggressive antiIndia narrative Some have even issued reckless threats about attacking Indias northeastern states and severing the strategic Siliguri Corridor the chickens neckOn Indias western flank sits Pakistan the perpetual antagonist Economically bankrupt yet ideologically belligerent Islamabad remains ever eager to manufacture tensions with New Delhi Its military establishment continues its hostility towards India using terrorism as a strategic tool and pushing narcotics across the international borderIn such a hostile environment Indias actions are justified and cannot be casually questioned If the US claims its Venezuela operation was about narcoterrorism Indias charges against Pakistan are far graver harbouring and sponsoring terrorism waging proxy wars causing the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians spreading religious hatred attempting to destabilise India internally and aiding narcoterrorismThe world has already seen compelling proof of Pakistans role as a terror hub most notably when US forces eliminated Osama bin Laden on its soil Since then a disturbing number of terror attacks across the globe have traced their origins back to PakistanIf the US can do it with Venezuela then why not India do the same with Pakistan This question must be uppermost in the minds of the millions of Indians who have been directly or indirectly affected by Pakistansponsored terrorismThe world today stands at a crossroads drifting steadily towards unilateralism where nations look inward first and act alone The new year has begun on a troubling noteWhether it descends further into chaos or forces a collective rethinking of global conduct will depend on the choices made now by those who wield power and by those who live under its shadowDeepika Bhan can be contacted at deepikabiansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fairpoint-2026-begins-with-the-sound-of-boots-not-diplomacy-657014.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-anti-terrorism-courts-verdict-against-journalists-sparks-concerns-over-press-freedom-report-657016.html Islamabad Jan 4 An antiterrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced eight journalists and social media commentators to life imprisonment in absentia convicting them of terrorismlinked offences related to online activity backing former Prime Minister Imran Khan sparking concerns over press freedom and freedom of expression in the country as per a media report The case is related to protests that began after Imran Khans arrest on May 9 2023 when Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI supporters targeted military installations according to a report in Modern Diplomacy In response to the protests authorities launched a crackdown on PTI and dissenting voices using antiterrorism laws and military courts to prosecute hundreds accused of targeting state institutionsThe report in Modern Diplomacy said The verdict raises serious concerns over press freedom and freedom of expression in Pakistan Critics say the use of antiterrorism laws against journalists and commentators risks criminalising political speech and online dissent The ruling underscores the expanding role of security courts in handling political cases and reflects the broader erosion of civil liberties following the May 2023 unrestThe case is likely to further affect Pakistans ties with press freedom advocates and could spark the international communitys scrutiny over Pakistans use of antiterrorism laws against journalistsIn December last year the Human Rights Council HRC of Pakistan expressed serious concern over the continued arbitrary detention enforced disappearance and judicial harassment of Pakistani journalist Sohrab Barkat warning that the case raises troubling questions about respect for press freedom due process and constitutional safeguards in the countryBarkat an Islamabadbased correspondent for Pakistani news outlet Siasat was reportedly detained at Islamabad International Airport on his way to a United Nations conference on November 26According to the HRC of Pakistan Barkat was unlawfully transferred to Lahore after his detention and subsequently implicated in multiple cases despite official submissions made to the Islamabad High Court stating that no inquiry or case was pending against him and that he was free to travelThe contradiction between court submissions and subsequent actions reflects a disturbing disregard for the rule of law it statedThe rights body noted that actions attributed to Barkat are linked solely to his professional work as a journalist which includes conducting interviews editing and publishing news content reporting on peaceful protests in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir and covering political dissent and human rights concerns It added that such activities fall squarely within the legitimate and protected domain of journalismThe HRC raised alarm over reports that Barkat was detained without due legal process produced late before the courts repeatedly remanded without clear or sustainable charges and denied adequate access to his family and legal counselThe emergence of successive cases at critical stages of the legal process appears aimed at obstructing bail and prolonging detention further deepening concerns about misuse of legal mechanisms it saidThe organisation demanded the release of Barkat the withdrawal of all fabricated and politically motivated cases against him and an independent and transparent investigation into his abduction and treatment in custody It further called on the Pakistani authorities to end the systematic targeting and intimidation of journalists and to uphold Pakistanâs constitutional and international obligations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-anti-terrorism-courts-verdict-against-journalists-sparks-concerns-over-press-freedom-report-657016.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladeshs-mounting-economic-woes-to-spill-into-2026-657019.html New Delhi Jan 4 Several challenges faced by the Bangladesh economy from 2025 such as the rising nonperforming loans in the financial sector are likely to spill into the new year according to local media reports The Bangladesh Bank had limited room to act as the government relied heavily on highcost borrowing from the banking sector At the same time debt defaults continued to weaken banks ability to extend fresh credit the Dhakabased The Daily Star reportedHigh interest rates discouraged even capable entrepreneurs from pursuing new investments Large banks found a safe haven in highyield government treasury bonds rather than extending new loans to the private sector the report saidThe interim government largely opted to maintain the status quo in public financial management As a result no new model emerged for budget allocation social safety net management or broader fiscal policy Longpending revenue reforms were pushed forward under IMF pressure but deeper restructuring faltered due to legacy constraints within the civil bureaucracy the report points outInvestment remains sluggish and the pressure to create decent jobs for young people continues In an emerging economy like Bangladesh inflation must be managed carefully through market oversight and supplyside measures Rising debt repayments call for stronger domestic revenue mobilisation through tax digitisation capacity building a firm stance against corruption reduced VAT leakages and expanded income tax collection Close monitoring of the exchange rate is also essential the report statedAccording to the report a conducive law and order situation is nonnegotiable if Bangladesh has to progress The new government should engage more actively with global investors trade partners and development agencies This requires political stability and peace in production belts Lower energy and food prices alongside resilient global supply chains could further support growth provided no major disruptions emerge the report addedExport growth has slowed in recent months highlighting the need to lower the cost of doing business improve turnaround times and ensure better management of industrial zonesThe report further states that while diversification of products and markets has long been discussed progress remains limited As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from the LDC category this year these measures will demand sharper focus and decisive action IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladeshs-mounting-economic-woes-to-spill-into-2026-657019.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladeshs-jute-industry-losing-global-edge-due-to-high-costs-outdated-technology-bjsa-chairman-657022.html New Delhi Jan 4 Bangladeshâs jute industry is steadily losing its edge in the global market as high production costs outdated machinery and low productivity continue to drag the sector down according to Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association BJSA Chairman Tapash Pramanik In an interview with âThe Daily Starâ Pramanik said jute mills in Bangladesh are struggling to compete with rivals from other countries that have modernised their factories and reduced costs through better technology and efficiencyHe said expensive energy high interest rates on loans and old machines have made jute products costlier weakening their position against synthetic fibres and other natural alternativesHe explained that although jute was once known as the âgolden fibreâ of the region its importance has faded over time as the industry failed to evolve with global market trendsâToday most jute exports still depend on traditional products such as yarn hessian and sacks even as international buyers increasingly look for diversified valueadded and ecofriendly jute goodsâ he statedâBangladesh has fallen behind in research and development product design and the commercial use of new jutebased itemsâ he notedHe noted that the sector is often treated as a legacy industry that needs protection rather than as a modern agroindustrial value chain that should be rebuilt for longterm growthDespite juteâs environmental advantages he said the industry has not been able to regain its former glory due to structural weaknesses policy gaps and marketrelated challengesâGovernment initiatives have remained fragmented and shortterm instead of bringing meaningful transformationâ he addedHighlighting the contrast with the readymade garments RMG sector Pramanik said RMG became Bangladeshâs top export industry because of consistent policy support modern machinery better productivity easy access to finance and continuous research and developmentThese factors helped garment exporters integrate quickly into global markets and earn higher marginsIn comparison the jute sector has remained stuck with lowvalue bulk exports outdated technology financial stress and weak institutional supportAs a result export earnings from jute and jute goods have remained stagnant between 900 million and 1 billion for more than a decade IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladeshs-jute-industry-losing-global-edge-due-to-high-costs-outdated-technology-bjsa-chairman-657022.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-dhaka-police-bans-public-gatherings-near-yunus-residence-secretariat-657027.html Dhaka Jan 4 The Dhaka Metropolitan Police DMP has imposed a ban on all types of public gatherings in key areas in Bangladeshs capital including near the Secretariat and Jamuna the official residence of Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus local media reported on Sunday According to the notice issued by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali the restriction which takes effect from Sunday itself has been implemented under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance 1976 citing the need to maintain public order and safety of the Chief Advisor the United News of Bangladesh reported The order will remain in effect until further noticeAll types of meetings processions assemblies human chains sitins and similar activities have been banned in and around the Secretariat and Jamuna The areas where the restriction has been enforced include Kakrail Mosque crossing Officers Club crossing Hotel InterContinental Crossing and Mintoo Road crossingMeanwhile lawyers in Dhaka on Sunday formed a human chain to protest against the killing of Pabna Judge Court trainee lawyer Naeem Kibria who was beaten to death after his car was hit by a motorcycle in the Bashundhara Residential Area of the capital The protest held in front of the Dhaka Bar Association was organised by Sachetan Abiyani Samaj the Dhaka Tribune reportedAddressing the protesters Advocate Anwarul Islam condemned the killing and demanded a speedy trial Several days have passed since the murder of lawyer Naeem Kibria but not a single person has been arrested yet This contradicts the spirit of the July movement and the uprising of 24 We wanted a Bangladesh where equal rights and fair justice for all are ensured Yet it is unfortunate that killings are being reported almost every day We demand a fair investigation and trialLawyers who were holding the protest stated that the incident demonstrated the need to have a clear and effective law to protect lawyers in Bangladesh They also demanded investigations and trials in all murder cases in BangladeshKibria 35 a lawyer at the Pabna Judge Court was beaten to death in the Bashundhara Residential Area on the night of December 31 According to Kibrias cousin Rafiqul Islam he was a victim of mob violence The attackers also vandalised the private car he was driving He had gone out in a friendâs car he saidPolice sources said that Kibria was driving through the Bashundhara area at around 10 pm on December 31 when his car collided with a motorcycle Unidentified youths including the motorcyclist allegedly brought him out of the vehicle beat him and left him on the road before escaping from the site Dhaka Tribune reported Upon receiving the information his cousin arrived at the spot and took him to the hospital where he was declared dead IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-dhaka-police-bans-public-gatherings-near-yunus-residence-secretariat-657027.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/china-aims-to-extend-geopolitical-clout-to-thailand-via-bri-route-657029.html New Delhi Jan 4 China is now reported to be eyeing northern Thailand especially along the ThaiâMyanmar border with its Belt and Road Initiative BRI playbook to build strategic influence in the region Chinaâs move to extend its geopolitical influence in the area is disguised as development assistance according to an article in the Myanmarese media outlet The IrrawaddyThe proposal by a Chinese proxy is to construct a 172 km tunnel linking Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai The Chinese government is reportedly ready to give infrastructure fund support worth 3040 billion Thai bahts provided an MoU is signedOn paper the project addresses a genuine developmental bottleneck Mae Hong Son is one of Thailandâs poorest provinces and the poorest in the north economically marginalised by mountainous terrain and limited road access resulting in weak integration into national supply chains The tunnel promises to change this by dramatically reducing travel time and improving yearround connectivity For locals the appeal is obvious and efforts from the distant Thai capital have been sporadic underfunded or politically marginalised the article statedYet the strategic implications of Chinaâs presence in this plan extend well beyond provincial development China Highway Engineering Consulting a subsidiary of China Communications Construction a company that has been sanctioned by the United States since 2020 due to its role in South China Sea islandbuilding as a crucial player in Chinaâs BRI master plan is playing an active role in pushing the project in ThailandIt also has a lengthy track record of corruption and malpractices in development projects around the world Any involvement of the company should set alarm bells ringing the article observedThese connectivity projects in northern Thailand in other words do not exist in isolation they form part of an emerging crossborder logistical ecosystem that links Thailandâs upper north to key routes within Myanmar the article pointed outThis new project would result in a better transportation route for minerals from inside Myanmar and those might even be rare earth elements If the project gets underway then it could drive up demand for Myanmarâs minerals and in turn encourage the expansion of mining activities against the backdrop of political instability and the war economy there the article observesBut above all the project would have a grave environmental impact on Thailand and the whole Mekong and Salween River Basin Once again China delegates the risks to downstream communities while reaping profits from being the biggest player in the global critical minerals supply chain the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/china-aims-to-extend-geopolitical-clout-to-thailand-via-bri-route-657029.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-to-visit-france-and-luxembourg-hold-talks-with-leadership-657030.html New Delhi Jan 4 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar will be on an official visit to France and Luxembourg from January 49 During his visit to France the EAM will meet French leadership and hold talks with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean Noel Barrot In a statement Ministry of External Affairs MEA said They will discuss the progress made under the IndiaFrance Strategic Partnership and matters of global importance EAM will also address the 31st edition of the French Ambassadorâs Conference as the Guest of HonourDuring his visit to Luxembourg EAM Jaishankar will hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel and the senior leadership He will also interact with the members of the Indian community in LuxembourgIn November last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africas JohannesburgDelighted to meet President Macron during the Johannesburg G20 Summit We had an engaging exchange on different issues IndiaâFrance ties remain a force for global good PM Modi posted on X after the meetingThe two leaders had held a phone conversation in September last year exchanging views on efforts towards bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine while reiterating Indiaâs consistent support for peaceful resolution of the issue and early restoration of peace and stability in the entire regionThey had also spoken over the phone on August 21 2025 coordinating their positions on the war in Ukraine in order to move towards a just and lasting peaceDuring their conversations over the past few months the two leaders have reviewed and positively assessed the developments in bilateral cooperation across different sectors including economic defence science technology and space They had reaffirmed their commitment towards further strengthening of the IndiaFrance Strategic Partnership in line with the Horizon 2047 Roadmap the IndoPacific Roadmap and the Defence Industrial RoadmapPM Modi had thanked President Macron for accepting the invitation to the AI Impact Summit hosted by India in February 2026 and looked forward to welcoming the French leader in IndiaOn trade issues we agreed to strengthen our economic exchanges and our strategic partnership in all areas â this is the key to our sovereignty and independence Following up on the AI Action Summit held in Paris last February we are working towards the success of the AI Impact Summit to be held in New Delhi in 2026 For more effective multilateralism we agreed to work closely together in preparation for the French presidency of the G7 and the Indian presidency of the BRICS in 2026 Macron had posted on X on August 21 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-to-visit-france-and-luxembourg-hold-talks-with-leadership-657030.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ban-on-teacher-recruitment-in-pakistan-an-educational-sabotage-report-657033.html Islamabad Jan 4 Teacher recruitment was effectively frozen in several parts of Pakistan for over five years A ban on teacher recruitment is not fiscal discipline but educational sabotage as it quietly pushes children out of school by denying them qualified adults in classrooms a report said Nearly 30000 public primary schools are run by a single teacher in Pakistan One person is expected to teach administer maintain records manage enrolments engage with parents and keep the school operational This implies that one teacher is handling many classes at once teaching in classrooms doing paperwork opening and closing schools It is not commitment but an institutional abandonment normalised over time senior manager at thinktank Tabadlab Fahad Zafar wrote in an opinion piece in The News InternationalRecruitment in Sindh was halted due to the authorities inability to classify hard and soft posting areas correctly Hiring was stalled in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid political and bureaucratic paralysis including prolonged delays in Cabinet formation Similarly School Education Department in Punjab abruptly stopped teacher recruitment in 2022 citing administrative restructuring The decision was taken without a transition plan and without considering work of already overworked teachers causing intensified workloads and deepened learning gapsTeacher hiring processes were repeatedly halted in Balochistan amid allegations of bribery and corruption Court interventions were needed to stop recruitment from collapsing fully Students continued to suffer as files moved between offices while inquiries continuedIn an opinion piece in The News International Fahad Zafar wrote When teacher recruitment stops access to education shrinks Each year without hiring pushes studentteacher ratios further into dysfunction Reversing this damage will now require a decade of uninterrupted recruitment and placement simply to return to baseline That is a decade of lost learning and lost potential that no reform slogan can recover Even when hiring resumes the instability does not endTransfers and postings remain politicised as teachers posted in rural and underserved schools are frequently transferred to schools in urban areas through influence and connections The schools that require continuity most remain without a teacherOnly recently in 202425 has the system begun to move again Sindh has recruited nearly 93000 teachers after years of delay Punjab has chosen to outsource thousands of lowperforming public schools to private entities to cope with the issue Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have announced plans to hire around 9000 and 17000 teachers respectively to address chronic shortages These steps matter But they come after more than half a decade of damage the author wrote in an opinion piece in The News InternationalLet us be clear A ban on teacher recruitment is not fiscal discipline but educational sabotage It quietly but steadily pushes children out of school by denying them qualified adults in classrooms Temporary budget relief comes at the permanent expense of a generation Pakistanâs education crisis is driven by a lack of resources but also by abrupt decisions poor execution and shortterm political thinking Millions of children have paid the price for administrative failure he added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ban-on-teacher-recruitment-in-pakistan-an-educational-sabotage-report-657033.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/street-crimes-underline-how-abnormal-life-has-become-in-pakistans-karachi-report-657034.html Islamabad Jan 4 Police statistics have shown a decline in reported street crimes in Pakistanâs Karachi from 71105 cases in 2024 to over 64000 in 2025 However the same official data underline the extent to which abnormality has become normal in the countryâs largest city a report said According to police data 6683 vehicles were hijacked at gunpoint in 2025 including 302 cars and 6381 motorbikes compared to 8370 such incidents in 2024 As many as 39934 vehicles were stolen in 2025 including 1813 cars and 38121 motorbikes down from 43382 in the previous year according to a report published in the Business RecorderPhone snatching incidents continued to occur frequently across Karachi As per the same data 19353 mobile phones were snatched in 2024 highlighting the persistent scale of street crime in the cityAn editorial in the Business Recorder noted that Karachiâs police statistics released at the turn of the year were intended to show improvement While they do reflect a decline in reported street crimes from 71105 in 2024 to over 64000 in 2025 the same figures reveal what the editorial described as the real indictment of life in Pakistanâs largest cityThe editorial pointed out that more than 46000 citizens lost their cars or motorbikes in 2025 while over 17000 people were deprived of their mobile phones during the yearâA âreductionâ that still leaves tens of thousands dispossessed at gunpoint or through theft is not a success story It is a measure of how low the baseline has sunkâ the editorial saidExperts have cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions from a comparison of only two years noting that official figures capture only what is recorded in police registers and not the full extent of crime They flagged the absence of credible research and the lack of a holistic data ecosystem that includes inputs from other stakeholders such as paramedics and hospitalsWithout such comprehensive data the report argued the state ends up managing narratives rather than addressing crime on the groundAnother editorial in the Business Recorder observed that underreporting is not merely a statistical anomaly but the outcome of fear and institutional incentives When citizens anticipate harassment delays or refusal at police stations many choose not to file complaints At the same time when police performance is measured by reductions in registered crime the system quietly incentivises keeping cases off official recordsâThe result is a city where the public cannot know the real scale of victimisation and policymakers cannot design credible responses because they are working with partial politically convenient numbersâ the editorial saidIt added that Karachi as Pakistanâs principal port city and commercial hub cannot afford unchecked street crime as it imposes economic costs not reflected in police tallies including higher security expenditure by businesses disrupted logistics reduced retail activity after hours and the gradual flight of investment to safer jurisdictions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/street-crimes-underline-how-abnormal-life-has-become-in-pakistans-karachi-report-657034.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-reeling-under-mounting-unemployment-657042.html New Delhi Jan 4 The Pakistan government continues to peddle a comforting unemployment rate of 7 per cent yet according to prominent economist Dr Hafeez Pasha the real figure is closer to 22 per cent according to an article in the Pakistani media The ground reality is far grimmer 8â9 million Pakistanis are openly unemployed 15â18 million are underemployed trapped in lowproductivity informal work Over 22 million youth enter the labour force every year GDP growth of 25â35per cent absorbs barely half of them This is not a temporary mismatch It is a permanent and expanding backlog of wasted human potential wilfully ignored by the state the article in the Karachiheadquartered Business Recorder saidAfter two decades Pakistanâs export basket remains trapped in lowvalue textiles and commodities Engineering electronics chemicals and IT services remain marginal Without valuechain migration scalable job creation is a mirage it observedThe article highlighted that tariffs and subsidies protect rentseeking incumbents instead of driving productivity Pakistan does not lack factories it lacks competitive factories Labourintensive manufacturing is sacrificed to monopoliesThe article also pointed out that the countryâs universities massproduce degrees disconnected from market needs while technical and vocational education is starved of funding and prestige The outcome is educated unemployment the most volatile and politically dangerous formPakistanâs unemployment crisis is no accident of fate It is not the result of global headwinds or temporary shocks It is a direct predictable and manufactured outcome the consequence of deliberate policy choices made year after year the article lamentedThe article painted a grim outlook ahead Five years from now if this blueprint remains unchanged by 2029 Pakistan will be a country with 20 million unemployed with an economy where 60 per cent of labour is informal and insecure It would simultaneously face skilled labour shortages and mass joblessness trapped in low exports low productivity and stagnant percapita income In other words it will be a permanent tinderbox of social unrest and at that stage reform will no longer be policydriven It will be panicdriven in the middle of systemic collapse it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-reeling-under-mounting-unemployment-657042.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-secretary-of-state-urges-realism-on-venezuela-transition-657046.html Washington Jan 4 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said expectations of an immediate democratic transition in Venezuela are unrealistic cautioning against demands for instant elections following the arrest of NicolÃs Maduro Speaking on CBS Face the Nation Rubio said comparisons with past US interventions were misplaced âPeople analyse everything through the lens of Iraq Libya and Afghanistanâ he said âThis is not the Middle EastâRubio said Washingtonâs focus in Venezuela is centred on addressing security threats in the Western Hemisphere âWe have a country that has cozied itself up to Iranâ he said adding that criminal groups have been allowed to operate freely from Venezuelan territoryHe acknowledged the role of opposition figures in the country âI have tremendous admiration for MarÃa Corina Machadoâ the top American diplomat said also praising Edmundo GonzÃlezHowever Rubio said immediate political change was not realistic âEveryoneâs asking why 24 hours after Nicolas Maduro was arrested there isnât an election scheduled for tomorrowâ he said âThatâs absurdââThese things take timeâ Rubio added âThereâs a processâAsked whether Venezuelaâs emerging leadership had committed to democratic principles Rubio declined to provide details âIâm not going to publicly get into details about any of those thingsâ he saidHe said Washington would judge leaders by their actions rather than assurances âWe are going to make our assessments on the basis of what they doâ Rubio saidRubio emphasised that the United States continues to retain leverage âIf they donât make the right decisions the United States will retain multiple levers of leverageâ he saidHe rejected suggestions that oil interests were driving US policy âThatâs not what happened hereâ Rubio said âWe arrested a narco traffickerâAt the same time Rubio said oil remains central to Venezuelaâs future economic recovery âTheir oil industry is completely destroyedâ he said âThey need investmentâHe added that oil wealth must ultimately benefit the population âRight now all of that wealth is stolenâ Rubio saidRubio warned that Washington would not tolerate the presence of hostile actors in the region âWe are not going to have a country like Venezuela in our own hemisphereâ he said âat the crossroads for Hezbollah and IranâThe top American diplomat said the Trump administrationâs approach would be guided by national interest and gradual changeâWe want Venezuela to transition to be a place completely different than what it looks like todayâ Rubio said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-secretary-of-state-urges-realism-on-venezuela-transition-657046.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-say-trump-bypassed-congress-on-venezuela-657072.html Washington Jan 5 US Democratic lawmakers accused President Donald Trump of bypassing Congress and misleading lawmakers by using military force to arrest Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro without authorization Speaking on CNNâs State of the Union Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said the operation amounted to an illegal act of warâThis is wildly illegalâ Murphy told CNN arguing that the president cannot conduct a military operation of that scale in a foreign country without congressional approvalMurphy said the administration initially briefed lawmakers by describing the mission as a counternarcotics effort only for officials to later acknowledge the use of US military assetsâThey came to Congress and literally lied to our faceâ Murphy said on CNNMurphy rejected claims that Venezuela posed an imminent threat to the United States âVenezuela is not a security threat to the United Statesâ he said noting that the country is not planning to invade the US and does not host al Qaedastyle terror groupsHe also challenged the drug rationale On CNN Murphy said most cocaine produced in Venezuela does not reach the United States while fentanyl â the drug killing Americans â does not originate thereâThis has nothing to do with American national securityâ Murphy saidHouse Intelligence Committee Democrat Jim Himes also speaking on CNN said lawmakers had not been properly briefed and disputed claims that Congress could not be notified due to potential leaksâThe law says you must brief Congressâ Himes said on State of the UnionDemocrats also questioned President Trumpâs repeated references to Venezuelaâs oil industry Murphy said the focus on oil raised red flags about the true motivation behind the operationâThis seems to be mostly about oil and natural resourcesâ he said on CNN warning that Wall Street and energy investors appeared positioned to benefitMurphy warned that the administration has offered no clear plan for what follows Maduroâs removal âWe donât know what happens nextâ he said âAnd thatâs dangerousâDemocratic leaders said Congress must reassert its authority to prevent escalation without accountability IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-democrats-say-trump-bypassed-congress-on-venezuela-657072.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-woman-found-stabbed-in-us-ex-boyfriend-fled-to-india-657073.html Washington Jan 5 A young Indian healthcare professional was found stabbed to death inside an apartment in the US state of Maryland police said as authorities launched an international search for her exboyfriend who left the country for India hours after reporting her missing Howard County police said on Sunday that Nikitha Godishala 27 of Ellicott City was found deceased on January 3 inside an apartment in Columbia belonging to her former partner Arjun Sharma 26 Sharma also from India is now wanted on first and seconddegree murder charges and US authorities are working with federal agencies to trace and arrest him after confirming he flew to IndiaAccording to Howard County Police Sharma reported Godishala missing on January 2 and told police he had last seen her on December 31 at his apartment in the 10100 block of Twin Rivers Road Authorities later determined that Sharma departed the United States for India later that same day according to an official releaseHoward County Police said its detectives executed a search warrant at the apartment on January 3 where they discovered Godishalaâs body with stab wounds Police believe she was killed shortly after 7 pm on December 31 New Yearâs Eve Investigators said the inquiry remains ongoing and that no motive has been identified so far a media release saidHoward County police said an arrest warrant has been issued following the discovery charging Sharma with both first and seconddegree murder In a statement the department said it is coordinating with US federal law enforcement agencies as efforts continue to locate and apprehend the suspectAccording to her LinkedIn profile Godishala was a highly qualified healthcare and data analytics professional with a background spanning pharmacy clinical research health information technology and data management She was driven by a passion for using datadriven insights to improve healthcare systems and patient outcomes with expertise in analytics regulatory compliance and healthcare quality systems her profile reflectsShe held a masterâs degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India Her skills included data analytics dashboard development healthcare regulations such as HIPAA and tools such as SQL Tableau Power BI and PythonAS per American law firstdegree murder involves premeditation while seconddegree murder applies to intentional killings without prior planningNotably United States and India have an extradition treaty that allows cooperation in serious criminal cases though such proceedings usually involve court reviews and diplomatic coordination often extending over months IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-woman-found-stabbed-in-us-ex-boyfriend-fled-to-india-657073.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-russia-ukraine-deal-possible-as-casualties-mount-657078.html Washington Jan 5 US President Donald Trump said a deal to end the RussiaUkraine war remains possible citing mounting casualties on both sides and arguing that economic pressure on Moscow is beginning to take effect Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday Trump told reporters newly released figures underscore the urgency of ending the conflict âThirty thousand soldiers were killed this current monthâ he said adding that about 27000 were killed the month beforeTrump said he does not set deadlines but remains hopeful âHopefully in the not too distant futureâ he said referring to a possible agreementAddressing reports that Ukraine may have targeted Russian President Vladimir Putinâs residence Trump said initial information was unclear âNobody knew at that momentâ he said adding that later checks suggested the claim was inaccurateâWe donât believe that happenedâ Trump saidTrump said the war is no longer a financial burden on the United States âItâs costing us nothingâ he said contrasting his approach with that of the Biden administration âBiden gave 350 billionâ now we get paidâHe said the US is recovering costs through trade and resource arrangements including rare earth deals âWeâre going to get a lot of that money backâ he saidLater Senator Lindsey Graham said sanctions and tariff pressure are hurting Russiaâs economy and could force Moscow toward negotiations He cited sanctions on Russiaâs largest oil companies as the strongest pressure applied since the war beganâIf you want to end this conflict put pressure on Putinâs customersâ Graham saidTrump agreed saying the Russian economy is struggling âThe Russian economy is lousyâ he saidBoth said stopping the bloodshed remains the priority âTheyâre not from Americaâ Trump said of the casualties âTheyâre from Russia and Ukraine And if I could get it stopped Iâd like to get it stoppedâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-russia-ukraine-deal-possible-as-casualties-mount-657078.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-pulkit-desai-sworn-in-as-new-jersey-city-mayor-657085.html Washington Jan 5 Pulkit Desai a US Marine veteran and technology professional has been sworn in as mayor of Parsippany New Jersey becoming the townshipâs first Indian American mayor after a razorthin election victory Desai a Democrat won the mayoral race after provisional and votebymail ballots overturned an earlier lead held by Republican incumbent James Barberio Final counts showed Desai ahead by a narrow margin with Democrats also winning two council seats and securing control of the township council The swearingin took place on SaturdayIn his first interview after taking office Desai told IANS that his administration would focus on controlling growth while strengthening local services âOur main priority is to make sure Parsippany is developed in a smart wayâ he said âThe overcrowding that has happened we want to stop that but we want to do smart development for commercial We want to bring businesses inâHe said schools and public services would remain central to town policy âIf there is anything for the school for the education board of education we want to make sure we give them all the funding thatâs necessaryâ Desai said He also pointed to âpublic infrastructureâ and âpublic safetyâ as ongoing prioritiesDesai said transparency would guide his leadership âThe most important thing is transparency and accountabilityâ he said âI want to be honest with the people of Parsippany with everything that I doâ He added that residents should know how decisions are made saying there should be âno backroom dealsâ and ânothing hiddenâ in township governmentParsippany has a large Indian American population and Desai acknowledged the significance of that representation while stressing equal treatment âI have to treat everybody equallyâ he said adding that he also sees himself as a representative voice for Indian Americans in the township He described the election of himself and council member Diya Patel as âa pretty good monumental achievementDesai traced his journey to public office back to his early years in the United States âI came here at a very young ageâ he said After completing his education he joined the US Marine Corps and served for six years including during Desert Storm He later spent three decades working in the technology sector moving from mainframe systems to cybersecurity rolesHis entry into local politics Desai said began with a dispute over voting rights while serving as president of a local lake association He said residents were once required to pay an additional fee to vote âNobody should have to pay extra money just to voteâ he said calling the charge a poll tax That fight he said pushed him toward broader civic involvement and eventually the mayorâs officeParsippany is Morris Countyâs largest township and has undergone significant demographic change in recent years Local media have described the new administration as historic noting that Asian Americans now form the largest ethnic group in the community and that the current council includes the first elected leaders of Indian descent IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-pulkit-desai-sworn-in-as-new-jersey-city-mayor-657085.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-visits-paris-exhibition-showcasing-indian-heritage-deep-cultural-ties-657093.html Paris Jan 5 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar visited an exhibition in Paris titled Ce qui se trame woven stories between India and France which showcased Indias textile heritage expertise and craftsmanship underscoring the strong cultural connection between the two nations Visited exposition Ce qui se trame woven stories between India and France in Paris this evening The exhibition showcases Indias textile heritage savoirfaire and creativity It is also a reminder of the strong IndiaFrance cultural connect EAM posted on X on Monday Indian timeEAM Jaishankar is on an official visit to France and Luxembourg from January 49 During his visit to France the EAM will meet French leadership and hold talks with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean Noel BarrotIn a statement the Ministry of External Affairs MEA said They will discuss the progress made under the IndiaFrance Strategic Partnership and matters of global importance EAM will also address the 31st edition of the French Ambassadors Conference as the Guest of HonourDuring his visit to Luxembourg EAM Jaishankar will hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel and the senior leadership He will also interact with the members of the Indian community in LuxembourgIn November last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South AfricaThe two leaders also held a phone conversation in September and August last year exchanging views on efforts towards bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine while reiterating Indias consistent support for a peaceful resolution of the issue and early restoration of peace and stability in the entire regionDuring their conversations over the past few months the two leaders have reviewed and positively assessed the developments in bilateral cooperation across different sectors including economic defence science technology and spaceThey had reaffirmed their commitment towards further strengthening of the IndiaFrance Strategic Partnership in line with the Horizon 2047 Roadmap the IndoPacific Roadmap and the Defence Industrial Roadmap IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-visits-paris-exhibition-showcasing-indian-heritage-deep-cultural-ties-657093.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/intel-warns-of-rising-infiltration-attempts-via-nepal-border-ahead-of-bangladesh-elections-657101.html New Delhi Jan 5 There has been a surge in the number of Bangladeshis who are trying to infiltrate India through the Nepal border The year 2025 witnessed multiple such instances in which Bangladeshis trying to illegally cross over into India have been apprehended by the Indian security forces Officials say that this is a new trend and more such attempts would be made by touts in Bangladesh The touts who are in cahoots with their Indian counterparts are increasingly using the Nepal route because security is tight along the IndoBangladesh border officials saySince the ouster of Sheikh Hasina violence has engulfed the nation and this has put the Indian agencies on a state of high alert Many attempts had been made to infiltrate into the northeastern states and West Bengal during this period but most of the attempts have been foiled by alert Indian forces This has prompted the touts to look at the Nepal route through which they have been attempting to send illegal immigrants into IndiaThe infiltration route through Nepal that the touts have been using is near Raxaul in the East Champaran district of Bihar These touts are still testing the waters and hence the numbers have been lower Once they figure it out they will do it in larger numbers officials have warnedThere are other routes too which these touts have tried to use to send in illegal immigrants into India As per Intelligence agencies apart from Raxaul the touts have tried to send in illegal immigrants through Bahraich Gonda and Balrampur districts The Sashastra Seema Bal SSB which mans the IndoNepal border has sounded a high alert and has deployed 1700 personnel to curb this menaceThese personnel are carrying out intensive combing operations in the forest areas near Nepal to prevent largescale illegal immigration In addition to this the SSB has deployed 9000 personnel across Pilibhit Bahraich Shravasti Balrampur Siddharthnagar and MaharajganjAn Intelligence Bureau official says that the Nepal border is a matter of concern We have learnt that a large number of Bangladeshis have taken shelter in the border areas of Nepal and are waiting to enter India illegally the official said These people have been staying in Nepal for a long time and are waiting for the right moment to cross over into IndiaWhile the route has changed the script almost remains the same officials say They are being sent in to create demographic changes Moreover with the ISI sprucing up the terror infrastructure in Bangladesh to be used against India many of these illegal immigrants are being sent in to be part of the modules in Bihar West Bengal and the northeastern states officials also warnSince Operation Sindoor the ISI has changed its tactics largely The Nepal border with India which is open is being exploited by Pakistan It has been looking to push in terrorists through this border as the Line of Control LoC and International Border IB are hard to penetrate owing to high security by the Indian armed forcesFollowing Hasinaâs ouster the ISI with the JamaateIslami has managed to gain control over Bangladesh These developments have prompted the Indian security agencies to maintain a very high vigil along the border with Bangladesh This has made sending illegal immigrants into India through the Bangladesh border extremely challenging and hence the shift is being made to the Nepal border an official saidIntelligence Bureau officials say that the push in the months to come will be higher A major part of the security apparatus would be focused on the West Bengal elections scheduled for this year The touts who facilitate illegal immigration would look to take advantage of this and spruce it up through the Nepal border officials warnOfficials also say that the elections in Bangladesh are slated for February 12 Intelligence agencies are anticipating largescale violence and disturbances both in the runup and during the elections All these events would largely help the touts to carry out illegal immigration another official saidThe next couple of months would be challenging and the Indian security agencies will have to deal with multiple issues especially when it comes to the situation in Bangladesh an Intelligence Bureau official warns IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/intel-warns-of-rising-infiltration-attempts-via-nepal-border-ahead-of-bangladesh-elections-657101.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-to-implement-special-quarantine-measures-to-curb-spread-of-bird-flu-657110.html Seoul Jan 5 The South Korean government will implement a set of special quarantine measures this month to prevent the further spread of avian influenza AI officials said on Monday The Central Disaster Management Headquarters CDMH said 30 cases of highly contagious AI have been confirmed at poultry farms and 22 cases among wild birds since the cold season startedIn particular three strains of bird flu viruses H5N1 H5N6 and H5N9 have been reported this winter marking the first time in the countrys history that more than two strains of AI have been confirmed simultaneously while the H5N1 strain has been confirmed to be at least 10 times more infectious than in previous years according to the CDMH officials Yonhap News Agency reportedIn light of the situation authorities will dispatch quarantine officials to 539 layer farms raising more than 50000 laying hens nationwide over the next two weeks to conduct intensive inspectionsAuthorities also plan to strengthen disinfection efforts on roads near migratory bird habitats and poultry farms and conduct random inspections on farming vehicles entering the farmsOn December 29 authorities said South Korea has confirmed two additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at poultry farms in central and southwestern regions bringing the total number of cases this season to 26The latest cases were detected at a duck farm in the county of Eumseong North Chungcheong Province and at a chicken farm in Naju South Jeolla Province according to the Central Disaster Management HeadquartersAuthorities have restricted entry to the farms and begun culling poultry and investigating the outbreaksThey have also ordered a temporary standstill on relevant facilities and farming vehicles in the affected areasIn December last year industry data showed that egg prices had surged recently raising concerns over potential supply disruptions linked to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenzaThe average retail price of a carton of 30 large eggs exceeded 7000 won USD 483 last week according to the data from the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation Prices had remained in the 6000won range since last month before climbing back above the 7000won markSeparate data from the statistics ministry showed egg prices rose 73 per cent in September from a year earlier outpacing the 53 per cent increase in overall livestock product prices IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-to-implement-special-quarantine-measures-to-curb-spread-of-bird-flu-657110.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 14:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/jamaat-hawala-network-back-in-overdrive-to-fund-terror-influence-bangladesh-polls-657123.html New Delhi Jan 5 The JamaateIslamiâs subcontinental hawala network which has been the main fundraising front for many terror groups has become active once again before elections Intelligence inputs suggest The hawala network of the Jamaat which was lying low for some time has become fully active once again owing to multiple reasons While plenty of funds are being pumped into Bangladesh ahead of the elections it is also raising money to revive the terror infrastructure of groups such as the LashkareTaiba and JaisheMohammed Both these terror groups had lost a considerable amount of their infrastructure during Operation SindoorAfter lying low for some months the ISI has decided to rebuild terror infrastructure in a much bigger way While the ISI has several other channels to raise funds for terrorrelated activities it has asked the Jamaatâs hawala network to raise the bar and collect as much money as possibleThe Jamaat has a huge reach in many countries Its countless followers and sympathisers are the biggest donors The Jamaat collects money on the pretext that it wants to further the religion but in reality at least 90 per cent of the funds are used to incite violence and support terror groups The group has also channelised money through its massive hawala network into Pakistan Bangladesh Nepal and also Sri Lanka an official saidOver the years the Jamaat with the help of the ISI has managed to build a huge illicit financial system This supports the terror infrastructure of many terror groups In Pakistan the LashkareTaiba and JaisheMohammed depend largely on the Jamaatraised funds Groups such as the JamaatulMujahideen Bangladesh JMB and HarkatulJihadi Islami HuJI are also totally dependent on the funds raised by the JamaatThis development has raised concerns in Indian circles An Intelligence Bureau official says that the Jamaat is capable of raising money in big numbers and from across the globe It is currently in overdrive mode and is expected to raise a huge chunk of fundsThe ISI has instructed the Jamaat to step up operations The ISI wants the outfit to raise money for the LashkareTayba and JaisheMohammed so that the two terror groups can rebuild infrastructure The funds will also be used for operations training and logisticsThrough its hawala network the Jamaat would also look to divert funds into Jammu and Kashmir The ISI has an ambitious plan of setting up an allwomen overground worker OWG module It is also looking at roping in more youth to be part of the OWG network This exercise would require a lot of money and hence the Jamaat has been given the responsibility to raise the same an official pointed outFurther the ISI also needs a lot of funds to run its activities in Bangladesh It has been nurturing several terror groups in Bangladesh and has even roped in cadres from the LashkareTaiba to train terrorists in the country The ISI aims to have strong terror groups that can keep the northeastern states and West Bengal on edgeFurther the ISI has been meddling in the Bangladesh elections It wants to ensure that there is a Jamaat government in power The ISI has been diverting a lot of the Jamaatraised funds to incite violence It is looking to pump a lot of money into its radical network in the country so that the violence continues unabatedThe ISI is playing a big game whereby it wants to engineer a Jamaat win Currently the Jamaat is behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP This has led the ISI to engineer violence so that the elections are postponed This would give the Jamaat more time and also the possibility of winning an election by rigging itAn official said that all these exercises that the ISI has planned will require plenty of funding This explains the reason why it has told the Jamaat to step up operations and collect as much money as possible IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/jamaat-hawala-network-back-in-overdrive-to-fund-terror-influence-bangladesh-polls-657123.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/business-leaders-of-pakistan-afghanistan-hold-talks-on-reopening-torkham-border-crossing-657146.html Kabul Jan 5 Business leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan held discussions on reopening the Torkham border crossing aiming to ease trade disruptions between two nations local media reported on Monday The Talibanrun Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment said that they and Pakistani counterparts agreed to establish a joint delegation to hold talks on reopening the Torkham border crossing Afghanistans Khaama Press reportedIn a statement the chamber said Pakistans Chamber of Industry offered to hold talks during a virtual meeting held on Sunday a proposal accepted by the Afghan side to ease trade disruptions According to the statement a 12member delegation from each side is expected to hold talks in Jalalabad next week to discuss practical steps forwardThe chamber said the first phase would enable stranded cargo containers to cross the border followed by talks on the full reopening of the Torkham crossingThe Torkham crossing is one of the most key trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan which enables the movement of large volumes of food fuel and commercial goods between the two nationsOn Sunday people held a protest in the Landi Kotal area of Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand an immediate reopening of the Torkham border local media reported Traders transporters tribal elders daily wagers activists of political parties and civil society were part of the protest held under the banner of the All Borders Coordinators CouncilRepresentatives from various organisations and groups who were directly impacted by the border shutdown with Afghanistan since October 12 participated in the protest the Dawn reportedWhile addressing the protesters the speakers said that the border closure has caused economic murder of thousands of people the majority of them being tribesmen as they were fully reliant on the crossborder tradeThey called the Torkham border an important business gateway to Central Asia and said that the border crossing served as an economic hub for thousands of families as their livelihoods were linked to itAccording to them all commercial activities have stopped in the town due to the border closureThe speakers said that hundreds of families faced extreme poverty and economic problems due to border closure with many of them forced to take loans for their survivalThey urged Afghanistan and Pakistan not to link bilateral trade to political and security issues and to allow people to travel frequently on both sides of the borderWe also demand that influential tribal elders and trade representatives shall be made part of future PakAfghan peace and trade dialogue as they have always helped resolve thorny issues between the two countries in the past they said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/business-leaders-of-pakistan-afghanistan-hold-talks-on-reopening-torkham-border-crossing-657146.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 16:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-urges-de-escalation-in-venezuela-656898.html Brussels Jan 3 European Council President Antonio Costa said on Saturday the European Union EU was following the situation in Venezuela with great concern and urged deescalation The European Union calls for deescalation and a resolution in full respect of international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations he wrote on XHe said the bloc would continue to support a peaceful democratic and inclusive solution in Venezuela and backed efforts by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas working with member states to ensure the safety of European citizens in the countryEarlier on Saturday Kallas said the EU was closely monitoring developments and called for restraint stressing that the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter must be respectedKallas said she had spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU Ambassador in Caracas adding that the safety of EU citizens in Venezuela was the blocs top priority Xinhua news agency reported US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro who was flown out of the country along with his wifeThe United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader President Nicolas Maduro who has been along with his wife captured and flown out of the Country Trump said in a Truth Social post adding that the operation was done in conjunction with US Law EnforcementHe also announced a news conference scheduled for 11 am local time 1600 GMT on Saturday at MaraLago FloridaVenezuela on Saturday denounced the military aggression by the United States after large explosions were heard and aircraft were seen over the capital Caracas earlier in the day IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eu-urges-de-escalation-in-venezuela-656898.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-punjab-province-stares-massive-financial-losses-due-to-border-closure-with-afghanistan-656910.html Quetta Jan 3 Pakistanâs Punjab province is facing a severe economic crisis due to the prolonged closures of border crossings with Afghanistan with monthly losses estimated at more than Pakistani rupees 80 billion a report said on Saturday citing the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI According to LCCI President FaheemurRehman Saigol the continued closure of trade routes has severely disrupted bilateral trade with cement and agricultural chemicals sectors among the hardest hit He noted that following the October 2025 border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan all major trade routes were closed halting crossborder trade the Balochistan Post reportedâThe suspension of trade has not only damaged the economies of both countries but has also put the livelihoods of thousands of traders at risk on both sides of the borderâ said SaigolCiting LCCI sources the Balochistan Post reported that nearly 3000 traders remain stranded due to the closures including around 1200 Pakistani and 1800 Afghan tradersReports suggest that large quantities of fresh fruits dry fruits and other food items transported from Afghanistan to Pakistan are rotting in trucks parked at border points resulting in significant financial lossesSaigol said that Pakistanâs agricultural and industrial exports depend heavily on the Afghan border which also serves as a crucial transit route to Central Asian countries âThe halt in trade is increasing economic pressure Incomes are falling inflation is rising and both the public and investors are growing increasingly anxiousâ he addedMeanwhile residents engaged in border trade in Balochistanâs Turbat staged a protest on Thursday against the closure of the Abdoi border crossing with Afghanistan claiming the Pakistani governmentâs actions had deprived them of their main source of incomeThe rally led by Border Movement figure Sardar Wali Yalanzai started at Ghulam Nabi Chowk and concluded at Shaheed Fida Chowk where protesters raised slogans against the government and described the restrictions as âeconomic blockadeâThe protesters stated that the weekslong closure has taken an economic toll in the region where crossborder fuel and goods trading forms the main source of incomeYalanzai and other speakers accused authorities of giving traders âfalse hopesâ by repeatedly saying the crossing would reopen âtoday or tomorrowâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-punjab-province-stares-massive-financial-losses-due-to-border-closure-with-afghanistan-656910.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-intensifies-campaign-against-ahmadi-muslims-report-656913.html Islamabad Jan 3 A Pakistani court has sentenced a member of the Ahmadi community to life imprisonment for using the title âHafizâ meaning âone who knows the Quran by heartâ and for distributing the âTafsireSaghirâ a collection of Quranic translations and commentary respected within his community a report said on Saturday Islamabad Jan 3 A Pakistani court has sentenced a member of the Ahmadi community to life imprisonment for using the title âHafizâ meaning âone who knows the Quran by heartâ and for distributing the âTafsireSaghirâ a collection of Quranic translations and commentary respected within his community a report said on SaturdayâOn 24 December 2025 an Additional Sessions Court in Lalian Punjab delivered a verdict that should shame any legal system claiming to uphold justice Mubarak Ahmad Saani an Ahmadi Muslim was sentenced to life imprisonment under Pakistanâs blasphemy laws His crime was not desecrating the Quran not insulting Islam not inciting violence or hatred but calling himself a Hafiz and distributing a book of Quranic translation and commentary revered by his communityâ a report in the online magazine âBitter Winterâ detailedâThe courtâs decision criminalises reverence punishes piety and weaponises theology to persecute a man whose only offence was to practice his faith with sincerity and devotion â a faith that Pakistanâs legal machinery has systematically declared illegalâ it addedAccording to the report in a ruling that defies both âlegal logic and theological humilityâ the court conducted a doctrinal analysis of Ahmadi âheresiesâ declaring the book a âdefiled desecrated translation of the Holy Quranâ and invoking a provision of Pakistanâs blasphemy law that prescribes life imprisonment those who burn tear or otherwise desecrate the QuranâBut Saani did none of these things He did not destroy the Quran He circulated it He revered it He offered a translation and commentary that his community has cherished for decades This is the perverse genius of Pakistanâs blasphemy laws They punish interpretations and police theology And when applied to Ahmadis they become a tool of religious apartheidâa system in which the Sunni majority dictates not only who may call themselves Muslim but who may read translate and honour the Quran it mentionedThe report stressed that the case of Mubarak Ahmad Saani highlights the broader campaign against Ahmadis in Pakistan â a campaign that has criminalised religious identity equates theological nuance with blasphemy and treats peaceful devotion as a punishable offenceâAhmadis are barred from calling themselves Muslims They are forbidden from using Islamic terminology Their mosques are not recognised as mosques Their religious literature is banned Their graves are desecrated Their lives are endangered And now their memorisation of the Quran is treated as a criminal actâ the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-intensifies-campaign-against-ahmadi-muslims-report-656913.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/canada-must-act-against-khalistanis-stop-future-referendum-report-656914.html Ottawa Jan 3 Extremist Khalistani elements are using Canada as a base to advance their agenda and foment tensions with India a trend that Ottawa should stop Other countries would not tolerate such extremist diaspora groups operating from Canadian soil so Ottawa should take steps to prevent it a report suggested on Saturday According to Canadabased news website Western Standard the referendum conducted by terror group Sikhs for Justice in November 2025 in Ottawa occurred at a time when Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg with talks focused on trade relations â potentially undermining Canadas foreign policy interestsâCanada must act to stop a future referendum but its not the one in Alberta or Quebec A referendum campaign organised by Sikhs for Justice a proKhalistani group has been taking place with little notice from most Canadians Recently over 53000 Canadian Sikhs from Ontario Alberta British Columbia and Quebec voted in Ottawa during the latest phase of the Khalistan Referendum forming lines stretching nearly two kilometresâ the report detailedâCanada hosts one of the largest Sikh diasporas outside India with a vibrant and diverse community Canadian Sikhs actively contribute to all aspects of Canadian society including politics business arts and community life A small but vocal segment openly supports the Khalistani cause advocating for an independent Sikh state This has led to tensions with India which views such activities as a threat to its sovereignty and often criticises Canada for not curbing extremismâ it addedAccording to the report Canadian security agencies must act against Sikh extremist elements while ensuring that Sikh communities as a whole are not subjected to collective punishmentâSikhs face enough prejudice and discrimination due to their distinctive religious attire they wear turbans and some carry ceremonial daggers to face accusations of âdual loyaltyâ Jewish Canadians faced this stereotype and no group should carry that stigma Instead Sikh groups should work with Canadian agencies to isolate extremistsâ it notedThe report argues that Canada must demand more from Canadian citizenship requiring new citizens to set aside old hatreds and prejudices or face citizenship revocationâIn the meantime politicians and security agencies must demand more from diaspora communities and stop any groups organising activities that interfere with national security and foreign policy This approach should apply not only to Sikh extremists but to any group that seeks to use Canada as a platform for promoting foreign conflicts or undermining Canadian interestsâ it stressed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/canada-must-act-against-khalistanis-stop-future-referendum-report-656914.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelas-maduro-arrives-innew-yorkto-face-trial-after-capture-656938.html New York Jan 4 Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro who was seized by US Delta Force commandos has arrived in New York to face trial in a federal court on narcoterrorism charges Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores who landed at the Stewart Air National Guard Base on Saturday were taken by helicopter to a heliport in downtown Manhattan near federal offices and courtsAmid high security they were driven away in a motorcade Their first stop was expected to be the Drug Enforcement Agency office for processingThey are to be detained in Brooklynâs notorious federal jail the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await trial in a courtMaduro who had a 50 million bounty for his capture is expected to appear in court on Monday for an initial hearingAfter the plane landed on Saturday afternoon FBI agents surrounded the aircraft and whisked the couple awayIn Operation Absolute Resolve Maduro was taken early Saturday morning from the Venezuelan military base Fuerte Tiuna where he was sheltering to the Iwo Jima one of the Navy ships in the armada surrounding VenezuelaMore than 150 aircraft are involved in the operation officials saidIn charges announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi they are accused of narcoterrorism conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of weaponsAn outstanding indictment issued in 2020 charged them also with heading the drug organisatioan Cartel de los SolesPresident Donald Trump left open the possibility of the trial being transferred to Miami which has the largest population of Venezuelan exiles in the US and the news of his capture was met with jubilationâA decision will be made I assume between New York and Miami or elsewhere Floridaâ Trump saidTrump has framed the capture of Maduro as an antidrug operation to create the impression of a commonplace law and order operation to skirt international law provisions against violating the sovereignty of nationsFor now he has left Maduroâs Vice President Delcy RodrÃguez who was sworn in as his successor in placeâSheâs essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great againâ Trump saidRodriguez however in a fierce rebuttal accused the US of aggression and said âThis regime change would also allow for the seizure of our energy mineral and natural resourcesââThere is only one president in this country and his name is NicolÃs Maduroâ she declaredSecretary of State Marco Rubio said about Rodriguez and the interim administration âWeâre going to make decisions based on their actions and their deeds in the days and weeks to comeâBut clouding the scenario Trump has also said We are going to run the country rightâ and that âItâs going to make a lot of moneyâThat was a likely reference to Venezuelaâs oil richesHe had accused Caracas of âstealingâ US riches because of its nationalisation of the investments by American petroleum companiesHe has also said that there would be no troops on the ground in Venezuela without explaining how the US would run the countryMarÃa Corina Machado the opposition leader who won last yearâs Nobel Peace Prize has also staked a claim to the presidency for Edmundo Gonzalez who ran against Maduro in the 2024 election which the US and many international observers said was riggedGonzales ran as the opposition candidate after Maduro barred Machado from contesting the electionAlthough Trump has backed the claim of a rigged election and Gonzales being the real winner he has been silent about themThe Justice Department said in the charging document that Maduro along with his wife the current and former interior ministers carried out a drug operation for 25 years and sat âatop a corrupt illegitimate government that for decades has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activityâAlso included in the chargesheet are the leader of Tren de Aragua the violent Venezuelan gang that proliferated across the US during former President Joe Bidenâs rule the Colombian terrorist groups FARC and ELN and Mexican drug cartels Sinaloa and ZetaMaduro and his associates are accused of working with those groups in running the alleged drug operation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelas-maduro-arrives-innew-yorkto-face-trial-after-capture-656938.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/democrats-accuse-trump-administration-of-lying-to-congress-about-us-goal-in-venezuela-656943.html Washington Jan 4 US Democratic lawmakers showed their anger and distress in the aftermath of the US raid on Venezuela and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro They said that Congress had not been notified in advance and that US President Donald Trumps administration had previously lied to Congress about its goal in the oilrich South American nation Meanwhile they demanded an immediate briefing on the operation and on the White Houses next move Xinhua news agency reportedSecretaries Rubio and Hegseth looked every Senator in the eye a few weeks ago and said this wasnt about regime change I didnt trust them then and we see now that they blatantly lied to Congress US Senator Andy Kim wrote in a post on X Last year US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told members of Congress that regime change in Venezuela was not their goalJason Crow a Democrat on the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees agreed The Trump Administration repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people about Venezuela Over and over officials testified that this was not about regime changeJeanne Shaheen a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the Trump administration has consistently misled lawmakers leaving Congress in the dark on any US longterm strategy concerning VenezuelaSenator Chris Coons the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense also said that lawmakers were given false information by the administration A military operation to capture and overthrow a president even an illegitimate one is an act of war that must be authorized by Congress he saidBoth House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Saturday criticized the Trump administration for not seeking congressional authorization before the reckless attack demanding an immediate briefingThe Trump administration has not sought congressional authorization for use of military force and has failed to properly notify Congress in advance of the operation in Venezuela Jeffries said in a statementToo many questions remain unanswered said Jeffries calling for evidence to explain and justify this unauthorized use of military forceAccording to Schumer the White House has assured me three separate times that it was not pursuing regime change or taking military action in Venezuela Clearly they are not being straight with Americans Schumer said in a statementFollowing reports of explosions in Caracas Democratic Senator Brian Schatz a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote on X that the United States has no vital national interests in Venezuela to justify warWe should have learned not to stumble into another stupid adventure by now Schatz warnedHowever it seems Republican lawmakers largely back the Trump administrations attack on Venezuela Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson said they are expecting related briefings to Congress in the coming daysPresident Trumps decisive action is an important first step to bring him Maduro to justice for the drug crimes for which he has been indicted in the United States Thune said in a statementThe latest US strikes on Venezuela and its capture of Maduro have drawn worldwide condemnation and concern IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/democrats-accuse-trump-administration-of-lying-to-congress-about-us-goal-in-venezuela-656943.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelas-maduro-arrives-innew-yorkto-face-trial-after-capture-656947.html New York Jan 4 Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro who was seized by US Delta Force commandos has arrived in New York to face trial in a federal court on narcoterrorism charges Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores who landed at the Stewart Air National Guard Base on Saturday were taken by helicopter to a heliport in downtown Manhattan near federal offices and courtsAmid high security they were driven away in a motorcade Their first stop was expected to be the Drug Enforcement Agency office for processingThey are to be detained in Brooklynâs notorious federal jail the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await trial in a courtMaduro who had a 50 million bounty for his capture is expected to appear in court on Monday for an initial hearingAfter the plane landed on Saturday afternoon FBI agents surrounded the aircraft and whisked the couple awayIn Operation Absolute Resolve Maduro was taken early Saturday morning from the Venezuelan military base Fuerte Tiuna where he was sheltering to the Iwo Jima one of the Navy ships in the armada surrounding VenezuelaMore than 150 aircraft are involved in the operation officials saidIn charges announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi they are accused of narcoterrorism conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of weaponsAn outstanding indictment issued in 2020 charged them also with heading the drug organisatioan Cartel de los SolesPresident Donald Trump left open the possibility of the trial being transferred to Miami which has the largest population of Venezuelan exiles in the US and the news of his capture was met with jubilationâA decision will be made I assume between New York and Miami or elsewhere Floridaâ Trump saidTrump has framed the capture of Maduro as an antidrug operation to create the impression of a commonplace law and order operation to skirt international law provisions against violating the sovereignty of nationsFor now he has left Maduroâs Vice President Delcy RodrÃguez who was sworn in as his successor in placeâSheâs essentially willing to do what we think is necessary to make Venezuela great againâ Trump saidRodriguez however in a fierce rebuttal accused the US of aggression and said âThis regime change would also allow for the seizure of our energy mineral and natural resourcesââThere is only one president in this country and his name is NicolÃs Maduroâ she declaredSecretary of State Marco Rubio said about Rodriguez and the interim administration âWeâre going to make decisions based on their actions and their deeds in the days and weeks to comeâBut clouding the scenario Trump has also said We are going to run the country rightâ and that âItâs going to make a lot of moneyâThat was a likely reference to Venezuelaâs oil richesHe had accused Caracas of âstealingâ US riches because of its nationalisation of the investments by American petroleum companiesHe has also said that there would be no troops on the ground in Venezuela without explaining how the US would run the countryMarÃa Corina Machado the opposition leader who won last yearâs Nobel Peace Prize has also staked a claim to the presidency for Edmundo Gonzalez who ran against Maduro in the 2024 election which the US and many international observers said was riggedGonzales ran as the opposition candidate after Maduro barred Machado from contesting the electionAlthough Trump has backed the claim of a rigged election and Gonzales being the real winner he has been silent about themThe Justice Department said in the charging document that Maduro along with his wife the current and former interior ministers carried out a drug operation for 25 years and sat âatop a corrupt illegitimate government that for decades has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activityâAlso included in the chargesheet are the leader of Tren de Aragua the violent Venezuelan gang that proliferated across the US during former President Joe Bidenâs rule the Colombian terrorist groups FARC and ELN and Mexican drug cartels Sinaloa and ZetaMaduro and his associates are accused of working with those groups in running the alleged drug operation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelas-maduro-arrives-innew-yorkto-face-trial-after-capture-656947.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-belarusian-fms-strongly-condemn-us-aggression-against-venezuela-656951.html Moscow Jan 4 Russian and Belarusian foreign ministers strongly condemned US aggression against Venezuela during a phone call the Russian foreign ministry said During the call Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov exchanged views on the situation surrounding Venezuela stressing that Moscow and Minsk are united in condemning actions in violation of international legal norms Xinhua news agency reportedThey also stressed the unconditional necessity of the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife their return to the countrys capital and the restoration of Maduro to the post of head of stateThe two sides further noted the importance of swiftly creating conditions for resolving the situation around Venezuela through dialogue in accordance with international law the ministry saidIn an early morning operation on Saturday US Delta forces attacked an army base in Venezuela capping months of military buildup and picked up Maduro and his wife Cilia FloresThey were put on a warship for transportation to New York where ânarcoterrorismâ charges have been filed in a federal court US officials saidâTheyre on a ship and theyll be heading into New Yorkâ US President Donald Trump told Fox News âThey went by helicopter on a nice flight Im sure they loved itâTrump has been criticising Maduro accusing him of being involved in the drug trade and sending gangs to the US IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-belarusian-fms-strongly-condemn-us-aggression-against-venezuela-656951.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-lawmakers-criticise-trump-over-venezuela-656970.html Washington Jan 4 Indian American lawmakers sharply criticised President Donald Trumpâs decision to use military force in Venezuela and his statement that the United States would ârunâ the country The six Indian American lawmakers â all from the opposition Democratic Party â warned that the move bypassed Congress risked longterm instability and undermined constitutional limits on presidential powerRaja Krishnamoorthi a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence said Maduroâs record did not justify unilateral military action âNicolÃs Maduro is an illegitimate dictator who has inflicted immense suffering on the Venezuelan peopleâ Krishnamoorthi said âbut that reality does not give any president a blank check to use military force without CongressâHe said acting without authorization and asserting US control over another sovereign nation amounted to an abuse of power âBy acting without congressional authorization and publicly asserting US control over another sovereign nation President Trump is abusing presidential power and undermining the Constitutionâs separation of powersâ he saidKrishnamoorthi called on the administration to immediately brief lawmakers âThe Administration must immediately account for the safety of US personnel disclose whether there were any casualties and fully and immediately brief Congressâ he said adding that Trumpâs statement that the US would run Venezuela committed the country to âopenended responsibilityâ without approval He warned the move would âerode the rule of law embolden Moscow and Beijing to push boundaries elsewhere weaken Americaâs credibility and ultimately make Americans less safeâSuhas Subramanyam Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee said the operation contradicted Trumpâs stated opposition to new wars âPresident Trump said heâd be the âPeace Presidentâ and wouldnât start any new wars and yet here he is illegally invading another country and kidnapping its Presidentâ Subramanyam saidWhile describing Maduro as âa violent ruler who oppressed democracy in his countryâ Subramanyam said the manner of his capture would not achieve US goals âHis capture in this manner will not stop the flow of drugs or promise anything other than more instability in Venezuela and potentially another forever war started under false pretensesâ he saidProgressive lawmakers also framed the operation as a warning sign for global norms Ro Khanna said Trump had âbetrayed his MAGA base today launching a war of choice to bring regime change in Venezuelaâ arguing that repeated US interventions had failed âWhat will we say now if Xi Jinping wants to capture Lai of Taiwan or Putin tries to capture Zelensky in Ukraineâ Khanna askedCongresswoman Pramila Jayapal accused Trump of breaking a central promise âTrump promised to get the US out of wars â he liedâ she said adding that the action was âall about oil greed and powerâ In a separate post she questioned Washington deciding Venezuelaâs leadership rather than its peopleAmi Bera the longestserving Indian American Congressman said Maduro was illegitimate but warned the decision to strike without congressional input was âdeeply concerning and illegalâ citing the absence of a âclear and credible strategy for governance or democratic transitionâCongressman Shri Thanedar said âOnly Congress has the ability to declare warâ calling Trumpâs actions âtotally unconstitutional and unacceptableâThe backlash from Indian American lawmakers underscores growing concern on Capitol Hill that the Venezuela operation could draw the United States into another openended conflict without legislative consent IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-lawmakers-criticise-trump-over-venezuela-656970.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/act-of-war-nyc-mayor-mamdani-on-us-capture-of-venezuelan-prez-wife-656973.html New York Jan 4 New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has condemned the US action on Venezuela stating that the attack on any sovereign nation is considered an act of war as it was a violation of international law This came after US President Donald Trump announced that American forces carried out a largescale attack on the Venezuelan capital Caracas and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife He has also said that the US will run the South American nation during the transition periodIn a statement released by his office Mamdani said I was briefed this morning on the US military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife as well as their planned imprisonment in federal custody here in New York CityUnilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law he addedNotably Mamdani holds limited power over federal actions as Maduro and his wife are detained in New York under the custody of US federal agenciesThe newly swornin New York City Mayor further blasted the move as a pursuit of regime change by the Trump administrationThis blatant pursuit of regime change doesnt just affect those abroad it directly impacts New Yorkers including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance he addedMeanwhile Maduro arrived in New York City late Saturday local time to face US criminal charges after federal prosecutors unsealed a sweeping indictment accusing him of leading a longrunning narcoterrorism and cocaine trafficking conspiracyThe indictment was made public by US Attorney General Pam Bondi and filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York Prosecutors allege Maduro used state power to move massive quantities of cocaine toward the United States over more than two decadesMaduro is charged with narcoterrorism conspiracy cocaine importation conspiracy firearms offences and related crimes The conduct is alleged to have begun around 1999 and continued through 2025According to the court filing Maduro sits atop a corrupt illegitimate government that relied on military intelligence and law enforcement institutions to protect drug trafficking routes Prosecutors say thousands of tons of cocaine were shipped from Venezuela through the Caribbean Central America and MexicoThe indictment names several codefendants including Maduros wife Cilia Flores de Maduro and his son Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra Senior Venezuelan officials are also charged including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello Rondon and former Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez ChacinProsecutors allege the network partnered with violent criminal and militant groups including Colombias FARC and ELN guerrillas Mexicos Sinaloa Cartel and Zetas and the Venezuelan gang Tren de AraguaThe court document details alleged acts such as using Venezuelan diplomatic passports to shield traffickers dispatching multiton cocaine shipments by air and sea and providing armed protection for drug movementsIt also alleges kidnappings bribes and violence were used to secure trafficking routesMaduro and his codefendants are also accused of possessing machine guns and destructive devices in furtherance of the drug conspiracy Prosecutors say the weapons were used to enforce control and protect shipmentsIf convicted the charges carry potential life sentences The US government is seeking forfeiture of assets tied to the alleged crimes including drug proceeds and property used to facilitate traffickingMaduro is expected to appear before a federal judge in Manhattan where prosecutors are likely to seek his continued detention pending trialThe United States has long accused Maduro of corruption and drug trafficking and does not recognise him as Venezuelas legitimate president following disputed elections and international condemnation of his rule IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/act-of-war-nyc-mayor-mamdani-on-us-capture-of-venezuelan-prez-wife-656973.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuela-crisis-may-drive-safe-haven-demand-for-gold-silver-656988.html Mumbai Jan 4 Global markets are set to begin the first full trading week of 2026 on edge after a major geopolitical shock involving Venezuela a country with the worldâs largest oil reserves Investor focus has shifted sharply to safehaven assets like gold and silver while oil prices are expected to move higher amid fears of supply disruptionsMarkets turned cautious after US forces captured Venezuelan President NicolÃs Maduro and his wife during a military operation over the weekendThe US has charged them with drug trafficking escalating tensions in an already fragile region The development is being seen as a major geopolitical event that could unsettle energy markets and increase demand for safe assets at the start of the yearGold began 2026 on a strong note rising over 1 percent to trade near 4370 per ounce supported by geopolitical risks and expectations that US interest rates may ease later this yearSilver also gained more than 2 per cent moving close to 73 per ounce helped by dollar softness supply deficits and rising industrial demandHowever on a weekly basis both metals saw profit booking after last yearâs sharp rally COMEX gold slipped nearly 5 per cent while silver dropped over 8 percent as higher margin requirements forced some traders to cut positionsIn the domestic market MCX Gold futures saw a sharp fall at the start of the week marking their steepest singleday decline in two monthsSince then prices have moved in a narrow range Analysts say gold may recover if prices hold above key support levels but a sustained fall below these levels could trigger further correctionOil prices also opened the year on a positive note with WTI crude ending the week near 573 per barrel Oil had a tough 2025 falling nearly 20 per cent due to oversupply concernsHowever rising tensions involving Venezuela and renewed RussiaâUkraine strikes on energy infrastructure have increased the risk premiumMarkets are now watching the upcoming OPEC meeting on January 4 where the group is widely expected to maintain its pause on additional supply increasesBase metals showed strength at the start of the year extending their yearend momentum Copper prices moved closer to record highs while aluminium crossed 3000 per tonne for the first time since 2022 Strong demand on Asian exchanges helped support prices globally IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuela-crisis-may-drive-safe-haven-demand-for-gold-silver-656988.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-says-is-aware-of-north-korea-missile-launches-reaffirms-defence-commitment-to-allies-656995.html Washington Jan 4 A US military command said it is aware of North Koreas missile launches this week while reaffirming its security commitment to allies in the region The IndoPacific Command issued a statement after Pyongyang lobbed multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Sunday morning Korea time marking its first missile test this yearWe are aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners Based on current assessments this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory or to our allies the command said Yonhap News Agency reportedThe United States remains committed to the defence of the US homeland and our allies in the region it addedThe Norths latest launches came as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung plans to have a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during his fourday state visit to China this weekThey also followed US President Donald Trumps announcement that the US has captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a military strike in Caracas to bring him to face American justice for drug trafficking and other chargesOn December 29 South Koreas Defence Minister Ahn Gyuback warned of a growing security instability surrounding the Korean Peninsula citing a deepening military cooperation between North Korea and RussiaThe security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula has become more unstable than ever Ahn said in a speech at a forum on an alliance with the United StatesNorth Korea is advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities and modernising its conventional forces through military cooperation with Russia Ahn said in the speechAhn called such cooperation between North Korea and Russia a grave challenge not only to the Korean Peninsula but also to the international communitySouth Koreas intelligence agency has estimated that North Korea has deployed around 15000 troops to Russia to support its war with Ukraine since October last yearIn return North Korea was expected to gain access to Russias cuttingedge military technologies IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-says-is-aware-of-north-korea-missile-launches-reaffirms-defence-commitment-to-allies-656995.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-stares-at-mega-economic-crisis-in-2026-report-656887.html New Delhi Jan 3 Pakistan stares at several economic challenges in 2026 amid continuing low economic growth recurring militant attacks and potential disasters related to climate change according to a new report A report in Nikkei Asia by Farhan Bokhari said that the country has avoided default on its foreign debt payments owing to a timely intervention by the International Monetary Fund in 2024 with a 7 billion loan through 2027 but faces major challenges this yearThe countryâs prevailing annual economic growth rate of just 3 per cent âdoes not compare well to being barely above the annual population growth rateâ It is also clear that reviving economic growth presents Pakistan with many tough challenges the report saidâPakistan must intensify the pace of its internal reforms notably to tackle conditions surrounding the bulk of its population More than 40 per cent of Pakistans population of roughly 257 million people live in abject poverty Besides the country has an alarming level of illiteracy with just under 40 per cent of the population considered illiterateâ the report stressedNotably Pakistans internal political divisions have undermined the confidence of investors notably those who need to take a longterm perspective âUnless the political tussle is brought to an end investors are likely to remain wary of making medium or longterm commitments Without a strong surge in fresh investments which is being held back due to the internal political divide Pakistan is set to remain locked in a continuing cycle of low economic growthâ said the reportMoreover Pakistan witnessed largescale destruction caused by heavy rainfall and floods and the nation will likely witness 20 per cent higher rainfall in 2026 than the previous yearAccording to the report other alarming indicators include the reality of almost a third of children in Pakistan below the age of five suffering from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition and failure over the long run to grow its economy faster and make distribution of wealth more equitable IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-stares-at-mega-economic-crisis-in-2026-report-656887.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-aviation-crisis-deepens-with-empty-airports-suspended-international-routes-report-656894.html BeijingNew Delhi Jan 3 The aviation sector in China is facing a significant crisis with empty airports suspended international routes and mounting airline losses according to a media report The situation âhas become a symbol of the countryâs broader economic and political isolationâ by the global community the Ceylon News wire reported It attributed the crisis to the mismanagement of domestic as well as foreign policiesâThe eerie emptiness of Chinaâs airports today is not merely a logistical issue but a telling indicator of deeper structural problems Once bustling hubs of international travel facilities such as Beijingâs Daxing International Airport now resemble ghost towns Social media posts from travellers reveal shuttered shops deserted terminals and flights operating with only a handful of passengersâ the report saidâThis collapse in air traffic is not an isolated phenomenon but part of a wider trend that underscores the fragility of Chinaâs economy and the limitations of its governance model under the Chinese Communist Party CCPâ it addedThe report called out the CCPâs costcutting measures that led airlines mainly stateowned Air China China Eastern and China Southern to reduce services install hard seats and even strap cargo onto passenger seats eroding âconsumer trustâIt noted that the governmentâs domestic policy of prioritising infrastructure expansion without addressing consumer confidence also left airlines overextended and unable to adaptAt the same time highspeed rail with cheaper and more reliable alternatives led to stiff competition and further weakened aviationâs appealThese challenges were compounded by Chinaâs strained relations with Western nations exacerbated by the ongoing USChina trade war and geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea These discouraged international airlines from maintaining routesAs per the report more than 30 foreign carriers including Virgin Atlantic Scandinavian Airlines and El Al suspended flights to China by December 2024âEven Beijingâs unilateral visafree policy for citizens of 38 countries has failed to reverse the decline Inbound travel recovery rates remain dismal only 452 per cent from the US 562 per cent from Germany 579 per cent from the UK and 53 per cent from France as of mid2025â the report saidThis led to severe financial loss of more than 47 billion yuan 645 million collectively for Air China China Eastern and China SouthernThe CCPâs policies both domestic and foreign have failed to inspire confidence leaving the aviation industry as a cautionary tale of what happens when political priorities overshadow economic pragmatism the report said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-aviation-crisis-deepens-with-empty-airports-suspended-international-routes-report-656894.html Sun, 04 Jan 2026 00:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-fm-vows-to-revamp-overseas-missions-to-expand-diversify-diplomacy-656700.html Seoul Jan 2 South Koreas Foreign Minister Cho Hyun vowed Friday to revamp diplomatic missions overseas in a way that will boost their operational efficiency as part of efforts to expand and diversify South Koreas foreign policy amid a shifting international landscape Cho made the remarks in a New Year message to foreign ministry officials signaling plans to streamline the missions deemed less efficient while reinforcing the functions of those stationed in key regionsFor missions that show limited effectiveness we will carry out efficient restructuring and reinforce core functions by focusing them on key missions Cho said in his speech Yonhap News Agency reportedHis remarks followed media reports that the ministry scrapped plans to open new embassies in several countries after President Lee Jae Myung questioned the need for the expansion reversing an initiative pushed for by the former Yoon Suk Yeol governmentCho called for overseas missions to better coordinate with South Korean public entities operating abroad to ensure the collaboration will produce outcomes benefiting Korean nationals and companies based in the countriesWe will introduce measures to systematically manage performance and service such as by reinforcing the authority of heads of overseas missions to better oversee locally operating public institutions and selecting officials capable of overseas assignments he saidCho also pledged to lead the ministry to pursue more summit diplomacy and widen the economic horizons of foreign policyIt has become more important than ever to explore and further expand new economic horizons he said We will strive to promote diplomacy that improves peoples livelihoods and revitalizes businessesLooking ahead we will step up summitlevel diplomacy and actively engage in diplomacy with key regions to diversify our diplomatic outreach Cho saidOn December 22 Cho Hyun said he would work to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula by seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations reiterating the governments efforts to reengage with PyongyangCho made the remarks in a keynote speech at an event hosted by the South KoreaUS Parliamentarians Union saying it is time to deeply reflect on what must be done to ensure security and peace on the peninsulaâThe two summit meetings between South Korea and the United States this year would provide a foundation for those effortsâ he said stressing the importance of âswiftly and properlyâ negotiating the agreements reached in the joint fact sheetHe added that South Korea should work to bolster deterrence while simultaneously seeking dialogue with North Korea and other relevant nations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-fm-vows-to-revamp-overseas-missions-to-expand-diversify-diplomacy-656700.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/afghanistan-explosion-hits-court-building-in-faryab-656701.html Kabul Jan 2 An explosion occurred at the court building in Faryab creating panic and sparking fresh security concerns in northern Afghanistan local media reported on Friday Following the explosion the emergency responders reached at the site of the incident The blast took place at the Court of Appeal building in Faryab on Thursday causing panic in the surrounding area At the time of the explosion Taliban officials were holding a security meeting inside the building indicating that the gathering could have been the targetSome sources have claimed that the explosion occurred due to a rocket strike while others said that it was a planted mine explosion leading Afghan news agency Khaama Press reportedHealth officials said that a number of dead and injured were taken to hospitals however the exact casualty figures have not been released yet So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack and Taliban officials have not yet released an official statement about the incident or its aftermathLast October nine people were injured after a hand grenade exploded inside a mosque during evening prayers in Afghanistans Parwan province according to local officialsThe explosion took place during evening prayers in Shinwari district on October 19 Afghanistans leading news agency Khaama Press reported Officials said the blast took place after a man accidentally dropped a grenade he was carryingNine people suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment According to witnesses the man who dropped the grenade was a member of the Taliban and also suffered injuries in the explosionNo further details regarding the identity of the suspect or why he was carrying a weapon in the mosque were released by the authoritiesThe incident took place a week after a similar attack took place in Bamiyan province when armed men opened fire on worshippers during prayers IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/afghanistan-explosion-hits-court-building-in-faryab-656701.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/dhaka-hails-indias-initiative-to-take-relations-forward-but-fails-to-contain-hate-crimes-in-bangladesh-656708.html New Delhi Jan 2 Indiaâs External Affairs Minister S Jaishankarâs Dhaka visit to attend former Prime Minister Khaleda Ziaâs funeral on Wednesday and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visiting the High Commission in New Delhi to pay respects to the departed leader is significant given the current situation observed a leading Bangladesh daily âThe brief visit of Indiaâs foreign minister S Jaishankar to Dhaka over the past two days along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singhâs visit to the Bangladesh mission is significantâ said a Prothom Alo analysisâSince the popular uprising of 5 August 2024 which led to the fall of the Awami League government and Sheikh Hasinaâs flight to India relations between the two countries have deterioratedâ it addedEarlier Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah had posted on social media âXâ that following Jaishankarâs Dhaka visit India and Bangladesh can look forward to scripting a new chapter in bilateral tiesIncidentally Hamidullah was summoned back to Dhaka on Monday amid rising bilateral tensions between the two neighboursâAs India Hon External Affairs Minister HE Dr DrSJaishankar left Dhaka following a whirlwind 4hr visit Bangladesh amp India would look forward to script a new chapter in BangladeshIndia ties in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence as indeed briefly discussed with bdbnp78 Acting Chair trahmanbnp this afternoonâ he wrote on WednesdayThe last part was in reference to the External Affairs Minister meeting the deceased former Prime Ministerâs son Tarique Rahman who is Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP Acting Chairman and handing him Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs condolence letterAlso acknowledging the Defence Ministerâs visit Hamidullah wrote the next day âHonoured to welcome HE rajnathsingh Hon India Defense Minister at bdhcdelhi as he conveyed condolences of India and paid homage to former Bangladesh Prime Minister bdbnp78 Chairperson late BegumKhaledaZia in DelhiâFridayâs analysis in Prothom Alo appears to echo the High Commissionerâs observations on the development referring to his social media postsâYet barely a week later Rajnath Singhâs visit to the Bangladesh High Commission to pay respects to Khaleda Zia is significant In addition to honouring the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh his presence at the High Commission signals that Delhi is taking responsibility for ensuring the highest level of security at the missionâ wrote the newspaperâs Diplomatic Editor Raheed Ejaz on FridayThe piece however failed to mention the violence in Bangladesh and the killings of Hindu and other minority citizens It rather highlighted demonstrations and protests in India voicing the ongoing atrocitiesViolence in Bangladesh has sharply escalated with Hindu minority citizens facing targeted killings At least 12 Hindus were murdered in mob lynchings and extrajudicial attacks last month These incidents have heightened anxiety among minority communities and raised questions about Bangladeshâs ability to protect vulnerable groupsThe violence undermines social cohesion and democratic transition especially ahead of the February 12 electionsAuthorities often present each killing as an isolated crime but it reveals how political instability religious radicalism and weak institutions converge to leave minorities vulnerable The Prothom Alo piece headlined Delhi eager to take bilateral relations forward ended portraying Bangladesh authoritiesâ uncertaintyIt recounted that when Touhid Hossain Adviser for Foreign Affairs of the Interim Government was asked whether Jaishankarâs visit would ease tensions between the two countries he replied âYou will have to look for the answer in the days ahead In the coming days you will see what happensâDhaka needs to reciprocate not appear uncertain passing on the responsibility and response to future IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/dhaka-hails-indias-initiative-to-take-relations-forward-but-fails-to-contain-hate-crimes-in-bangladesh-656708.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-shortage-of-funds-hinders-operations-at-mardan-children-hospital-656718.html Islamabad Jan 2 Shortage of funds has obstructed functioning of Mardan children hospital in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local media reported on Friday citing officials Speaking to Dawn officials said that wards remained functional in the OPD of hospital while work was still being conducted on the main building supposed to provide all specialised services The officials said that the project required government fundsAccording to officials there was shortage of beds as three to four children suffering from flu and pneumonia complaints were adjusted on one bed At times the officials said shortage of supplemental oxygen adversely impacted patient careThe officials said the government had approved a children hospitals having capacity of 200 beds on the premises of Mardan Medical Complex MMC in 2011 and it was supposed to become operational by 2014 They said that civil work of three floors was completed with installation of heating ventilation and airconditioning HVAC systems while the 50bed children and 45bed nursery units at MMC were overburdened due to large number of patients coming there for treatment Pakistans leading daily Dawn reportedThey said the deadline for completion of work had kept changing in the past however the hospital was still not operational The officials stressed that hospital needed governments attention as majority of work had already been completedMeanwhile government hospitals in the city of Hyderabad in Pakistans Sindh province continue to struggle to provide even the basic healthcare facilities to patients due to acute shortage of medicines diagnostic facilities and functional medical equipment majorly due to alleged poor oversight by officials of the health department local media reportedAs per reports Civil Hospital Hyderabad and all taluka hospitals in the city do not have essential medicines Patients are unable to undergo routine laboratory tests at talukalevel facilities due to lack of basic machinery resulting in patients being forced to undergo treatment in private hospitals and laboratories where they are asked to pay thousands of rupees for preliminary checkups another leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reportedThe situation has deteriorated to the extent that the trauma centre constructed on Hala Naka Road has remained nonoperational causing burden on Civil Hospital Hyderabad where patients come in large numbers for treatment from across Sindh However Civil Hospital itself is having nonoperational equipment and inadequate treatment facilitiesCurrently Civil Hospital Hyderabad has only one MRI and one CT scan machine operational while other diagnostic machines have remained nonoperational for months Situation at taluka hospitals in Hyderabad is reportedly worse as facilities like Sindh Government Bhittai Hospital Latifabad Government Hospital Qasimabad Kohsar Hospital Latifabad Government Hospital Pretabad and Government Hospital Hali Road and several basic health units lack testing facilities and essential medicines the newspaper report detailed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-shortage-of-funds-hinders-operations-at-mardan-children-hospital-656718.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/over-1100-vehicles-set-on-fire-across-france-during-new-years-eve-celebrations-656729.html Paris Jan 2 More than 1100 vehicles were set on fire and over 500 people detained across France during New Years Eve celebrations the countrys Interior Ministry has revealed In accordance with the Interior Ministers firm instructions which required a high degree of responsiveness and mobility law enforcement intervened immediately in cases of violence or vandalism the ministry assertedAs a result 505 people were arrested 420 in 2024 and 403 were taken into custody 310 in 2024 Furthermore a significant number of collective defence measures were deployed demonstrating the systematic response of the internal security forces 1262 read a statement issued by the ministryOn the other hand there has been an increase in vehicles set on fire main source and spread 1173 vehicles burned compared to 984 last year it addedMillions of French people had gathered to celebrate New Years Eve to mark the arrival of 2026 To ensure these festivities took place in a spirit of conviviality and peace the ministry said that it had put in adequate security measures across the country including placing the prefects and internal security forces under the authority of the Minister of the Interior who were fully mobilised to oversee the smooth running of the celebrations and guarantee everyones safetyIn Paris on the ChampsElysees more than a million people gathered to watch the fireworks and celebrate the New Year As every year other areas of the capital Trocadero Champ de Mars etc were also heavily occupied As in many city centres across France the large gatherings in public spaces took place peacefullyThe ministry stated that furthermore all the regional prefects reported a less turbulent night in the neighbourhoods than the previous year with more limited urban violence In particular there were fewer attacks on law enforcement compared to last yearIn this regard the prefect of the western defence zone reports that some urban areas that experienced significant incidents last year have seen virtually none this time including Brest Evreux Orleans Tours etc Furthermore the prefect of the northern zone reports that the responsiveness of the internal security forces enabled them to quickly quell any aggressive attempts against security forces particularly in the Lille metropolitan area Amiens Lille and Calais However more challenging situations were observed in Strasbourg in the Meinau Koenigschoffen and Neuhof districts requiring a massive deployment of law enforcement as well as in Mulhouse in the Bourtwiller Drouot and Coteaux neighbourhoods it mentionedThe updated tally of mortars seized by the police and gendarmerie stood at 96000 till Wednesday evening in order to prevent their prohibited use for festive occasions andor as improvised weapons against law enforcementThis use has once again this year resulted in numerous serious injuries severed fingers and hands and facial wounds For example the prefect of the Eastern region reported several injuries In the BasRhin department there were 9 victims aged between 18 and 44 in the Moselle department 5 injured between 13 and 46 years old including one child and finally in the HautRhin department 8 injured including two children aged 12 and 13 the statement added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/over-1100-vehicles-set-on-fire-across-france-during-new-years-eve-celebrations-656729.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-from-ukrainian-attack-in-khorly-has-risen-to-28-russia-656738.html Moscow Jan 2 The death toll from the Ukrainian terrorist attack in Khorly has risen to 28 as a woman hospitalized died in a Crimean hospital the Russian media reported on Friday Citing a statement by the Crimean Ministry of Health RIA Novosti the stateowned domestic news agency of Russia reported that a woman hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit ICU of a hospital in Dzhankoy died on FridayUnfortunately it was not possible to save the woman who had previously been hospitalized at the Dzhankoy Central District Hospital the Crimean Ministry of Healths Telegram channel statedThe Russian Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko told RIA Novosti that 27 people including two minors were killed in a terrorist attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the village of Khorly in the Kherson regionOn Thursday Kherson Oblast Governor Volodymyr Saldo announced that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had targetted a drone strike where civilians were celebrating the New Year â a cafe and hotel on the Black Sea coast in Khorly Friday and Saturday have been declared days of mourning in the region the report detailedThe hospital statement mentioned that there are 14 people in medical facilities in the Republic of Crimea who were injured in the Ukrainian Armed Forces strike in the village of Khorly in the Kherson regionFive children are currently being treated at the Republican Childrens Clinical Hospital Seven adults are hospitalized at Simferopol Clinical Emergency Hospital No 6 and two more patients are being treated at the NA Semashko Republican Clinical Hospital read the statementDoctors assess the condition of two patients including one child as serious The remaining injured are in moderate condition and are receiving all necessary medical care it added furtherEarlier Gennady Gatilov the Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and the OHCHR to promptly condemn the terrorist act of the Ukrainian army in the Kherson RegionOn New Years Eve the Kyiv regime led by Zelensky carried out another monstrous attack using UAVs armed with munitions which took aim at civilians in the village of Khorly Kherson Region Gatilov said While the exact number of those killed and injured in the course of this barbaric attack is still being established it is already clear that several dozens of people died including young children he stressedWe demand that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr Volker Turk and his Office OHCHR as well as respective special procedures of the Human Rights Council condemn publicly and as soon as possible the Kyiv regimes monstrous terrorist attack in the Kherson Region the diplomat said in his statement posted on the Telegram channel of the mission IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-from-ukrainian-attack-in-khorly-has-risen-to-28-russia-656738.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/yunus-made-no-efforts-as-situation-in-bangladeshs-chattogram-hill-tracts-worsened-in-2025-656742.html Dhaka Jan 2 The human rights situation in Bangladeshs Chattogram Hill Tracts worsened in 2025 as the government did not implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti PCJSS revealed in its Annual Human Rights Report 2025 local media reported on Friday According to the report no meaningful progress in implementing the accord was made under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus Nearly twothirds of the accord including its core provisions have not been implemented even after 28 years leading to increased militarisation communal violence land grabbing and widespread abuses against the indigenous Jumma people leading Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star reportedAs many as 268 incidents of human rights violations were recorded by PCJSS in 2025 impacting 606 Jumma people According to the report security forces police Bangalee settlers extremist groups land grabbers and Rohingya armed groups were identified as perpetratorsThe report revealed that eight extrajudicial killings 193 search operations 117 arbitrary arrests were made in villages and 26 incidents of violence were reported against women and children The PCJSS requested the Yunus administration to immediately implement the 1997 CHT Peace Accord end extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests resolve land disputes and ensure justice for victims of communal and sexual violenceThe report revealed that at least 43 homes and two Buddhist temples were searched and vandalised According to the report over 300 acres of land were illegally occupied in 2025 The most serious incidents documented in the report was the killing of three Marma youths in Khagrachharis Guimara in September as they were shot while holding protest against the rape of a Marma schoolgirlEarlier in December a leading human rights organisation in Bangladesh highlighted widespread rights abuses across the country including mob violence extrajudicial killings deaths in custody minority persecution killings in political violence and suppression of press freedom In its latest report Dhakabased Ain O Salish Kendra ASK revealed that mob terrorism has increased at an alarming rate throughout 2025As per the findings mob violence claimed 197 lives from January to December in comparison to 128 deaths last year Since the Muhammad Yunusled interim government assumed office in 2024 the report said at least 293 people have been killed in mob violencePeople have been beaten and killed without any evidence investigation or legal process by creating suspicion and rumours In the name of the Tawheed Janata mobs have been illegally formed to vandalise art and cultural centres attack the Baul community and even burn bodies from graves There have been incidents of harassment of people of opposing views including freedom fighters Bengali daily Prothom Alo quoted the rights body as sayingAccording to the statement in many of these incidents the law enforcement agencies failed to act and efforts to bring perpetrators to justice were largely absentThe report said that at least 107 people died in various prisons across the country in 2025 including 69 inmates and 38 prisoners Among the prisons across the country Dhaka Central Jail recorded the highest number of deaths with 38 followed by Gazipur with 7 while the remaining fatalities occurred in other prisons across the countryAdditionally at least 38 people were killed in extrajudicial killings in 2025 as reported by the monitoring of the Information Protection Unit of ASKThese deaths the rights body said occurred in the custody of law enforcement agencies under torture in the name of alleged shootouts or gunfights reflecting an ongoing human rights crisisASK revealed that between January and December 2025 Bangladesh witnessed at least 401 incidents of political violence claiming 102 lives and injuring 4744 peopleThe report further stated that at least 381 journalists faced torture and harassment during the same period with 23 journalists targeted by law enforcement agencies and 20 receiving death threatsHighlighting the atrocities on minorities across Bangladesh especially Hindus ASK documented several violent incidents including attacks intimidation looting arson and vandalism of idols between January and December 2025Bangladesh has been gripped by escalating human rights abuses and persistent attacks on minorities particularly the Hindu community under the Muhammad Yunusled interim government IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/yunus-made-no-efforts-as-situation-in-bangladeshs-chattogram-hill-tracts-worsened-in-2025-656742.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/space-for-independent-expression-steadily-reduced-under-xi-says-jailed-chinese-journalists-son-656747.html Beijing Jan 2 Jailed Chinese journalist Dong YuYus son Dong Yifu has urged the US the UK and the Europe to increase diplomatic pressure on China for his fathers release asserting that his fathers conviction sets a dangerous precedent Dong Yifus statement comes after Beijing High Court in November dismissed an appeal to overturn prison sentence of Dong YuYu His family termed the case a clear act of persecution British media outlet The Independent reportedThe case started after Dong YuYu was having lunch with a Japanese diplomat at a hotel in Beijing in 2022 which was a normal meeting for 63yearold journalist whose work included foreign affairs However police officers reached at the restaurant and took him for questioningDong YuYu was arrested and charged with spying offences before ultimately being sentenced to seven years in prison and the appeal to overturn his prison sentence has been dismissed by the Beijing High Court International community has voiced concern over Dongs case and is being viewed as an example of increasing up its control of an already compliant media landscapeSpeaking to The Independent Dong Yifu said Anybody just with the most basic sense would know that this whole thing is totally ridiculous He stated The government here really owes everybody including the Chinese people an explanationHe said that space for independent expression has steadily reduced under Xi in the past 10 years Referring to his father he said These are all very mild very moderate calls for reform Now even those mild and moderate voices are being silencedDongs family has voiced concern over the journalists health in state security detention centre in Beijing where he was kept for over three years before being shifted to No 2 prison in Beijing a correctional facility where several international inmates are imprisonedDong YuYu said The facility where he spent the past three years has very little sunlight very little natural light So itâs taken a toll on his health And the food as we know itâs not great so nutrition is a big concern for us And also heâs very old for a detaineeThe Beijing High Courtâs decision has prompted criticism from rights and press freedom groups who say the verdict erodes what little remains of free expression in a country that has already put dozens of journalists in prison under Chinese President Xi JinpingBeh Lih Yi an AsiaPacific Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists CPJ said Speaking with diplomats is routine work for journalists not espionage She said âChina must release Dong immediately or it is sending a message to the world that its stated goal of open engagement is empty talkâDong served as the deputy head of the commentary department at the Guangming Daily a newspaper once regarded more liberal than other Communist Party outlets Dong joined the media organisation in 1987 and he regularly published articles calling for constitutional democracy political reform and official accountability for the past 35 years IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/space-for-independent-expression-steadily-reduced-under-xi-says-jailed-chinese-journalists-son-656747.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/four-unidentified-bodies-recovered-as-more-civilians-forcibly-disappeared-by-pak-forces-in-balochistan-656751.html Quetta Jan 2 Two more Baloch civilians were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces amid a growing wave of enforced disappearances across Balochistan a leading human rights organisation said on Friday Condemning the incidents Paank the Baloch National Movements Human Rights Department mentioned that Hamdan a native of Dasht in Kech District was reportedly taken from his residence in Karachi on December 30 by the state intelligence agenciesThe rights body described the act as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and the rule of law It also called for the immediate disclosure of Hamdanâs whereabouts and demanded his safe releaseAccording to Paank another Baloch civilian Yasir Nasir was reportedly detained by Pakistani forces during a late night raid in the early hours of December 31 in the Gowak area of Mand in Kech districtSince his arrest Yasirs whereabouts remain unknown causing grave concern for his safety and wellbeing Paank statedAmid the escalating violence in Balochistan by the Pakistani forces the bodies of four unidentified people were recovered from a deserted area about 22 miles from the Zinda Pir area of Harnai district in the provinceCiting sources in the provincial paramilitary Levies force the Balochistan Post on Friday reported that residents alerted the authorities after spotting the bodies following which Levies personnel reached the spotAccording to the officials the bodies were found in a remote location and have been taken into custody for further action while the identities of the deceased remain unknownEarlier on Thursday Baloch families once again staged a sitin protest against the enforced disappearance of four members of the same family in Balochistans Kech district blocking a key stretch of the ChinaâPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC in the Tejban regionAccording to the human rights organisation Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC the people of Balochistan continue to live under fear repression and systematic human rights violations Four members of the same family two women Hani Dilwash and HairNisa were forcibly disappeared from Hub Chowki and two men Fareed Ijaz and Mujahid Dilwash were forcibly disappeared from Tejaban in Kech by Pakistani forcesâDespite harsh winter conditions mothers sisters elders and children remain on the road refusing to disperse until their loved ones are safely returnedâ the BYC statedCiting the families the rights body stated that earlier negotiations were held with the Deputy Commissioner of Kech who assured the immediate release of the detained women and promised that the men would be produced within 10 days However it said no one has been released exposing these assurances as empty and further eroding trustâWe urge national and international human rights organisations humanitarian bodies independent media and people of conscience to take urgent notice of the grave human rights situation in Balochistan Enforced disappearance is a crime under international law and must not be ignored or normalisedâ the BYC noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/four-unidentified-bodies-recovered-as-more-civilians-forcibly-disappeared-by-pak-forces-in-balochistan-656751.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ysrcp-mp-urges-centre-to-ensure-safe-release-of-nine-fishermen-detained-by-bangladesh-656762.html Amaravati Jan 2 YSR Congress Party YSRCP MP Maddila Gurumoorthy on Friday urged the Union government to ensure the safe release of nine fishermen who were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard In a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs MEA the MP said that nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh were apprehended by the Bangladesh Coast Guard in the mid sea of Bay of Bengal on October 21 2025 while they were operating a mechanised fishing vesselThe fishermen hail from Vizianagaram district and their families are in distress and undergoing mental agony he said and urged the Union government to use their offices to seek the release and safe return of the fishermenAccording to Gurumoorthy the fishermen inadvertently crossed the international maritime boundary near the West Bengal coast due to navigational lapses but were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard He said that there was no criminal intent involvedHe added the fishermen depend entirely on traditional fishing for their livelihood and that their prolonged detention has caused severe mental and financial distress to their familiesThe YSRCP MP from Tirupati added that Bangladesh is a signatory to international maritime laws and that provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea allow for the release of detained fishermen and vessels in such casesCiting humanitarian concerns Gurumoorthy appealed to the Centre and the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh to take immediate steps to resolve the issue and ensure the fishermens early releaseThe state government had said that eight fishermen from Vizianagaram district were detained by the Bangladesh Navy after their boat allegedly strayed into the neighbouring countrys territorial watersThe state government contacted the MEA through the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to secure the release of the fishermenA special legal team of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is providing legal aid for their releaseA charge sheet has been filed in Bangladesh against the fishermen prompting the Andhra Pradesh government to appeal to the Bangladesh Embassy for cooperation to allow continuous contact with the fishermens familiesUnion Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu took up the matter with the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar requesting steps for their swift return IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ysrcp-mp-urges-centre-to-ensure-safe-release-of-nine-fishermen-detained-by-bangladesh-656762.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/china-deploys-proxy-ngos-at-un-to-shape-narrative-deflect-scrutiny-report-656766.html Athens Jan 2 Chinas deployment of statebacked proxy NGOs at the United Nations reflects a strategy to manage its international image deflect criticism and create diplomatic space to resist accountability for abuses a report said on Friday It stated that by eroding the lines between genuine civil society and governmentlinked propaganda Beijing has reshaped the very mechanisms designed to protect human rights into arenas where authoritarian narratives can be promoted and critical voices sidelinedAccording to a report in the Athensbased Directus the challenge for the international community and for the future of multilateral human rights engagementwill be to preserve space for independent advocacy and ensure that the institutions tasked with upholding human dignity remain resilient to such influenceChinas reach into the United Nations human rights system has become increasingly sophisticated â and increasingly fraught with implications for the world of global governance Since 2023 a mounting body of investigations and civil society reporting has revealed how Beijing has not defended itself against criticism at the UN but cultivated a network of ostensibly independent organisations to act as proxies â in effect governmentlinked bodies masquerading as nongovernmental voices the report detailedThis activity strategy in a grey zone between diplomacy and information control blurring the line of genuine society engagement and stateled influence operations that neutralise scrutiny of rights abuses in Xinjiang Tibet Hong Kong and beyond it addedAccording to the report the proliferation of socalled GovernmentOrganised NonGovernmental Organisations GONGOs at the United Nations Human Rights Council and other UN human rights bodies is the central pillar of the strategyA joint investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists conducted with partner outlets found that dozens of organisations operating at the UN in Geneva have covert or open ties to Beijing while portraying themselves as independent civil society actorsâThese groups have flooded the Palais des Nations with delegates to showdown accounts of Chinaâs human rights record that sharply contradict evidence of systemic abuses They are not only crowded out independent voices but actively working to suppress witnesses from authentic human rights defenders those focused on Uyghurs Tibetans and prodemocracy activists from Hong Kongâ the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/china-deploys-proxy-ngos-at-un-to-shape-narrative-deflect-scrutiny-report-656766.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-army-again-overrides-civilian-govt-in-pursuing-agenda-656771.html New Delhi Jan 2 Ongoing actions on Imran Khan and his Pakistan TehreekâeâInsaaf PTI party may formally be seen as being initiated by the civilian govt but the sustained operation points to a wellcrafted design and execution a campaign of legal security and institutional pressure designed and configured by the allpowerful army Pakistanâs military has repeatedly overridden elected governments through coups constitutional manipulation and intelligenceâled political engineering At present the army has trained its guns on Imran Khan and his political party including arrests trials and restrictions on party activity Pakistanâs history is marked by full military takeovers 1958 1977 1999 as well as periods of dominant military influence in politics governance and foreign policy The militaryâs toolkit has included the removal of governments the manipulation of party structures intelligence operations against opponents and legal or extraâlegal pressure on media and civil society Institutional levers including appointments promotions and control over security policy have been used to institutionalise influence across successive governments Interventions have taken place not only as direct coups dismissal of assemblies or states of emergency but also as legal and administrative restrictions on parties and intelligenceâled political engineering The GovernorâGeneralâs dismissal of provincial and federal governments and the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in the early 1950s set an early precedent for extraâconstitutional removal of civilian authority and constrained party development In October 1958 the military removed the civilian leadership and General Ayub Khan assumed power imposing martial law suspending political partiesâ normal operations and introducing a controlled political system that limited their influence He was replaced by General Yahya Khan in 1969 who dissolved the thenexisting political structures and postponed elections a sequence that contributed to the 1971 crisis and the loss of East Pakistan In another episode General Zia ulâHaq overthrew Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in July 1977 imposed martial law banned political activities for extended periods and used legal and constitutional changes to weaken party structures and civil liberties Throughout the 1990s successive civilian governments were dismissed under constitutional provisions by presidents and governors often with the military and intelligence establishment playing influential behindâtheâscenes roles party fragmentation and coâoptation were common General Pervez Musharraf seized power in October 1999 and his removal of an elected government still hangs in the memories He suspended parts of the constitution introduced measures like emergency rule and judicial changes holding back constitutional protections He removed judges and curtailed party activities and media freedom In recent times since Imran Khanâs ouster in April 2022 the relationship between PTI and the security establishment has deteriorated sharply Following mass protests in May 2023 authorities launched a broad crackdown Thousands of PTI activists were arrested military courts and antiâterror laws were used against protesters and party offices were raided Imran Khan himself was arrested in August 2023 and has since faced multiple criminal convictions and sentences across several cases including highâprofile graft and verdicts handed down in 2025 Courts have issued long prison terms military and antiâterror tribunals have tried PTI supporters and journalists and commentators linked to the movement have faced severe sentences even in absentia The campaign against PTI combined legal prosecution administrative bans and security operations to fragment the partyâs organisational capacity and deter mass mobilisation The use of military courts and antiâterror legislation to try civilians has raised concerns among rights groups about due process and the militarisation of law enforcement At the same time the armyâs public posture â desperately trying to portray itself as defending state institutions â has been reinforced by episodes of confrontation with India and by highâprofile promotions that signal institutional consolidation In the May 2023 unrest attacks on military installations triggered mass prosecutions and military trials of alleged perpetrators Imran Khanâs multiple convictions and the 2025 ToshakhanaâII sentence are emblematic of the legal pressure on PTI leadership Meanwhile journalists and social media figures linked to PTI have been sentenced in highâprofile cases curbing dissenting voices IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-army-again-overrides-civilian-govt-in-pursuing-agenda-656771.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-shops-marble-for-white-house-ballroom-656774.html Washington Jan 2 President Donald Trump on Friday made a lowkey visit to a Florida stone supplier as part of preparations for a new White House ballroom with officials confirming he is personally purchasing materials for the project âPresident Trump is purchasing marble and onyx at his own expense for the White House Ballroomâ a White House official saidThe presidential motorcade arrived at a shopping centre in Lake Worth Florida at 946 am according to pool reports Reporters were held in vans and the President was not immediately seenThe shopping centre includes several businesses among them A1 Plus Stone Design a retailer that specialises in stone products such as marble and onyxOfficials did not provide details on the quantities or specific varieties of stone being considered during the visitLake Worth is located in Palm Beach County a short drive from Trumpâs MaraLago residence where he frequently stays while in FloridaThe White House officialâs statement underscored that the materials would be paid for personally by the President not with public funds The visit followed earlier indications from the White House that Trump has taken a direct interest in the design of the new ballroom including materials and finishesThe ballroom project has been presented by the administration as a response to longstanding space constraints at the White House particularly for hosting large formal events and state functions Officials have said the new structure is intended to blend with the existing architectural character of the White House complexImages previously released by the White House depict a classically styled building with ornate interiors The administration has said the ballroom would accommodate significantly more guests than current reception spaces and reduce the need for temporary outdoor tents during major eventsIn recent months Trump has held several meetings with White House staff and federal agencies to discuss design features and planning for the ballroom according to official statements The project is expected to involve outside architects construction firms and engineering teams working in coordination with the White House and the US Secret ServiceThe ballroom is planned for the site of the existing East Wing which has been renovated and altered multiple times over the past century Private donations including contributions from Trump are expected to cover construction costs which the White House has estimated to run into the hundreds of millions of dollarsFor decades US presidents have relied on the East Room or temporary structures to host large gatherings Trump has described the new ballroom as a longterm addition intended to serve future administrations and major international events at the White House IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-shops-marble-for-white-house-ballroom-656774.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-blocks-chinese-linked-chip-asset-deal-656775.html Washington Jan 3 US President Donald Trump has blocked a deal involving American semiconductor assets and a Chineselinked company citing national security concerns In an executive order issued on Friday Trump barred HieFo Corporation from acquiring certain chiprelated assets of Emcore Corporation The order said there was âcredible evidenceâ that the transaction could threaten the national security of the United StatesHieFo a Delawarebased company controlled by a Chinese national had acquired assets tied to digital chips as well as wafer design fabrication and processing businesses of New Jerseybased Emcore The acquisition was completed on April 30 2024Trump said existing legal authorities outside Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 did not provide âadequate and appropriate authorityâ to address the risks posed by the transactionUnder the order the transaction is prohibited and HieFo is barred from holding any interest or rights in the Emcore assets either directly or indirectly HieFo and its affiliates have been directed to divest all such interests within 180 calendar days unless the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or CFIUS extends the deadlineUntil the divestment is completed and verified by CFIUS HieFo is prohibited from granting access to the Emcore assets The restriction also applies to nonpublic technical information information technology systems products parts components books and records Any access would require written approval from CFIUSThe order authorizes CFIUS to impose compliance measures require certifications and conduct audits to ensure adherence HieFo must submit regular written certifications confirming that it is following the order and detailing progress toward divestmentEmcore had earlier announced the sale of its chips business and indium phosphide wafer fabrication operations for 292 million The transaction also involved HieFos assumption of certain liabilities and covered substantially all assets tied to Emcoreâs discontinued chips business including facilities in Alhambra CaliforniaCFIUS is an interagency panel chaired by the US Treasury Department that reviews foreign investments for national security risks Its scrutiny has expanded in recent years particularly for deals involving advanced technologiesSemiconductors are viewed as critical to both civilian and defense applications US administrations have increasingly used executive authority to restrict foreign access to sensitive chip technologies amid heightened strategic competition with China IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-blocks-chinese-linked-chip-asset-deal-656775.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senator-backs-trump-led-unity-in-ukraine-talks-656776.html Washington Jan 3 A powerful US Senator welcomed reports that the United States Ukraine and Europe have aligned behind a shared negotiating position to end the war in Ukraine observing that Western unity has shifted the balance against Russia âI welcome reports that the United States Ukraine and Europe have coalesced around a common negotiating position to end Putinâs war of aggressionâ said Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger WickerâThe Westâs demonstration of unity sends a clear signal to Putin His plan to divide us will failâhe saidWicker credited President Donald Trump with building that alignment âPresident Trump has succeeded in fostering unity which allows the West to engage Putin from a position of strengthâ he saidThe Mississippi senator rejected what he described as Moscowâs portrayal of the conflict âPutin ever the KGB agent continues to peddle a false narrativeâ Wicker said âHe wants the world to believe that Russia will inevitably achieve its military goals in Ukraine The facts on the ground say otherwiseâPointing to recent battlefield developments Wicker said âUkraine has successfully retaken Kupiansk and Russia remains unable to seize Pokrovsk Both illustrate that Putinâs narrative rings hollowâ He added âPutin cannot generate the combat power needed to achieve his maximalist political goals Ukraine continues to outinnovate RussiaâWicker said European partners encouraged by Trump were stepping up âAt President Trumpâs urging our European allies have taken significant steps to rebuild their industrial base alongside the United Statesâ he saidHe accused Moscow of spreading false claims to undermine diplomacy âPutin understands the unity of the West as the greatest threat to his aimsâ Wicker said adding that allegations of Ukrainian attacks near Putinâs residence in Novograd were âunsubstantiatedâ and âan obvious pretext for rejecting President Trumpâs peace termsâAsserting that Ukraine is ready for peace on just and realistic terms the Senator noted that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky âhas repeatedly been willing to make public concessionsâHe warned against any settlement that would force Kyiv to surrender territory âHis country should not be compelled to accept a peace that requires it to cede unoccupied territory to the Russiansâ he saidWicker urged greater military support calling for increased aid âin particular air defenses and longrange strike weaponsâ and said âcredible security guarantees for Ukraine are indispensable to any lasting cessation of hostilitiesâ He welcomed Trumpâs proposal to submit such guarantees to the Senate saying approval would show âbroad bipartisan support for UkraineââIt is time to end this warâ Wicker said âBut the end of hostilities must not reward the aggressor or cause the victim to suffer furtherâThe RussiaUkraine war that began in February 2022 is the largest conflict in Europe since World War II The war has displaced millions and reshaped security debates across Europe and within NATOWashington has provided billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Kyiv since the invasion while European nations have increased defense spending and coordinated arms production even as diplomatic efforts continue to seek an end to the fighting said in a statement âThe Westâs demonstration of unity sends a clear signal to Putin His plan to divide us will failâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-senator-backs-trump-led-unity-in-ukraine-talks-656776.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-defends-long-term-aspirin-use-656777.html Washington Jan 3 US President Donald Trump has acknowledged taking more aspirin than doctors recommend but said he prefers to continue the routine he has followed for years for what his physician describes as cardiac prevention In an interview with The Wall Street Journal Trump said he takes a high daily dose of aspirin and is unwilling to lower it despite being advised by doctors to do so He said the medication has been part of his daily routine for more than two decadesâThe large dose of aspirin he chooses to take daily has caused him to bruise easilyâ the Journal reported citing Trumpâs own remarks His doctors have encouraged him to switch to a lower dose but Trump said he has declined âIâm a little superstitiousâ he told the newspaperTrump said he believes aspirin helps thin the blood and reduce strain on the heart âThey say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood and I donât want thick blood pouring through my heartâ he said âI want nice thin blood pouring through my heart Does that make senseâAccording to Trumpâs physician Navy Capt Sean Barbabella the president uses aspirin for âcardiac preventionâ Barbabella said Trump takes 325 milligrams of aspirin a day A lowdose aspirin is most commonly 81 milligrams according to the Mayo Clinic a comparison cited in the Journal reportâTheyâd rather have me take the smaller oneâ Trump said âI take the larger one but Iâve done it for years and what it does do is it causes bruisingâThe issue of aspirin use has drawn attention amid wider public discussion of Trumpâs health He told the Journal that he regretted undergoing advanced medical imaging last year saying it fueled speculation âIn retrospect itâs too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunitionâ he saidBarbabella confirmed in a statement to the Journal that Trump underwent a CT scan not an MRI at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center The scan was done âto definitively rule out any cardiovascular issuesâ and showed no abnormalities he said The White House declined to make the doctor available for an interviewThe Journal also reported that Trump briefly tried wearing compression socks to address swelling in his lower legs but stopped because he disliked them âI didnât like themâ Trump said during the interviewBarbabella said Trump is in âexceptional health and perfectly suited to execute his duties as Commander in Chiefâ White House aides have said the president maintains a vigorous scheduleAspirin has long been used in the United States for heartrelated preventionTrump now 79 has repeatedly credited his health to what he calls his âvery good geneticsâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-defends-long-term-aspirin-use-656777.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 06:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-investor-among-top-maga-inc-donors-656785.html Washington Jan 3 IndianAmerican Silicon Valley investor Asha Jadeja Motwani has emerged as one of the largest diaspora contributors in the current US election cycle donating more than 5 million to the proTrump super PAC MAGA Inc according to federal campaign finance filings The filings which list contributors of 100000 or more show Jadeja reported a 5 million contribution from California in November 2025 placing her among a small group of ultrawealthy donors backing the political action committee Her electiontodate total stands at just over 51 million according to the disclosureJadejaâs name appears alongside some of the most influential figures and entities in American technology finance and investment At the top of the list is Foris DAX Inc the operator of the Cryptocom platform which has contributed 20 million in a single reported entry and 30 million to date in this election cycle OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman is listed as having contributed 25 millionKonstantin Sokolov an executive at IIS Investments LLC is listed with 11 million while several additional contributions run into the multimilliondollar rangeIn addition to Jadeja there are only two other donors at the 5 million level Blackstone chairman and chief executive Stephen A Schwarzman and investor Benjamin Landa Both are based in New YorkThe donor list also reflects a strong presence of technology and cryptolinked firms Gemini Trust Company a major cryptocurrency exchange is listed with nearly 15 million in contributions and more than 44 million electiontodate Financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase Bank NA and advisory and investment firms also feature prominentlyJadejaâs contribution stands out as one of the largest known political donations by an Indianorigin individual in the current filing underscoring the growing financial and political engagement of sections of the Indian American community in US electoral politics Her donation places her in the same donor bracket as some of the most powerful corporate and individual backers of MAGA IncThe filings also list contributions from individuals limited liability companies and political action committees with donations ranging from 1 million to several hundred thousand dollars The disclosures underline the scale of money being raised by the super PAC in the current election cycleUnder US law super PACs such as MAGA Inc are allowed to raise unlimited funds from individuals and corporations They are barred however from coordinating directly with a candidateâs campaign a distinction that has reshaped how elections are financedIndian Americans have become more visible in US politics in recent years both as candidates and as donors Although the community has traditionally been associated with the Democratic Party recent election cycles have seen political contributions spread more widely across the spectrumUSIndia relations including cooperation on technology trade and strategic issues remain a key area of interest for policymakers in Washington making the political engagement of Indialinked donors closely watched on both sides of the relationshipA Silicon Valleyâbased investor Jadeja has been involved in the US technology sector for several decades including earlystage technology ventures and advisory roles IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-investor-among-top-maga-inc-donors-656785.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/over-one-million-people-in-gaza-still-urgently-need-shelter-assistance-un-656797.html United Nations Jan 3 An estimated more than 1 million people or every other person in Gaza still urgently need shelter assistance the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN SecretaryGeneral said According to the office the shelter assistance needs remain although humanitarians have distributed thousands of tents and hundreds of thousands of tarpaulins and other items across the strip since the ceasefire Xinhua news agency reportedIt cited the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as saying that humanitarians in Gaza continue to help the most vulnerable families as harsh winter conditions leave hundreds of thousands of Palestinians struggling in makeshift tents damaged by rain wind and seawater wavesMeanwhile UN partners working in water sanitation and hygiene are facing challenges in managing solid waste as the gap widens between the quantity collected and accumulated due to the inability to reach landfills damaged infrastructure and fuel shortages said the spokespersons officeDespite the impediments UN Childrens Fundsupported teams have removed 1000 tonnes of solid waste every month since the ceasefire helping safeguard the wellbeing and health of children and their familiesThe UN Development Programme noted in December that solid waste management is among the most affected services with only a few of the temporary dumping sites accessible and operational compounding the environmental and public health risks the spokespersons office addedIn a statement issued on Wednesday the InterAgency Standing Committee bringing together UN entities and their partners urged the Israeli authorities to reconsider their plan to ban many international nongovernmental organizations from operating stressing that those organizations are central to humanitarian operations in the occupied Palestinian territory IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/over-one-million-people-in-gaza-still-urgently-need-shelter-assistance-un-656797.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-rises-to-two-from-65-magnitude-quake-in-mexico-656800.html Mexico City Jan 3 Two people died and 12 others were injured after a 65magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico local authorities said A 50yearold woman was killed after her home collapsed in the state of Guerrero on Friday the epicenter of the earthquake said Evelyn Salgado the states governorIn addition a man in his 60s died after stumbling and losing consciousness in Benito Juarez municipality Mexico City during an evacuation prompted by the earthquake Xinhua news agency reported quoting an official statement from the municipalityClara Brugada head of government of Mexico City said on X that after activating the earthquake response protocol the latest report indicated 12 people injured as well as 18 complaints due to a lack of electrical supply in various neighborhoodsShe added that two structures were being evaluated for risk of collapse and 34 buildings and five homes were being inspected as a preventive measurePresident Claudia Sheinbaum was forced to evacuate the presidential palace during her regular morning press conferenceMexicos National Seismological Service said the quake occurred at 758 am local time 1358 GMT with the epicenter located about 4 km southwest of San Marcos in the southern state of Guerrero at a depth of approximately 5 kmIn Mexico City loudspeakers on the streets broadcast a seismic alert several seconds before the tremors were felt IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/death-toll-rises-to-two-from-65-magnitude-quake-in-mexico-656800.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/large-explosions-heard-in-venezuelan-capital-656837.html Caracas Jan 3 Several large explosions were heard early Saturday in Caracas the capital of Venezuela The cause of the explosions is unclear while videos circulating on social media show smoke columnsPartial disruptions to telecommunication services were reported in the capital city following sounds of explosions reports Xinhua news agencyThis comes as US President Donald Trump has on several occasions warned about the possibility of ground operations in Venezuela as part of his strategy to oust President Nicolas Maduro intensifying sanctions augmenting military presence in the area and accusing ships of drug trafficking in both the Caribbean and PacificRecently the US administration announced sanctions against 10 entities and individuals based in Iran and Venezuela accusing Tehran of supplying conventional weapons to Caracas and threatening US interests across the Western Hemisphere including the US homelandIn separate statements the US Department of State and the US Department of the Treasury said a Venezuelan company targeted by the sanctions had been involved in the sale of millions of dollars worth of Iraniandesigned combat unmanned aerial vehicles UAVOther sanctioned entities and individuals were accused of supporting procurement networks linked to Irans drone and ballistic missile programs said the statementsThe entities and individuals designated today demonstrate Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missilerelated items in violation of UN restrictions State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott saidHe added that the Trump administration will take action to curb Irans ballistic missile program block its development of other conventional and asymmetric weapons and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weaponWe will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Irans militaryindustrial complex access to the US financial system said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K HurleyThe US Treasury Department also said that Irans UAV and missile programs threaten US and allied personnel in the Middle East and disrupt commercial shipping in the Red SeaRelations between the United States and Venezuela have also remained strained with Caracas repeatedly accusing Washington of pursuing regime change and expanding its military presence in the region under what the United States calls an antinarcoterrorism campaignAdditionally the CIA carried out a drone strike in December last year on a dock facility along the coast of Venezuela marking the first known land strike by the Trump administration inside the oilrich South American countryThe strike targeted a remote dock that US officials believed was being used by a Venezuelan gang to store drugs and transfer them onto boats for shipment the sources said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/large-explosions-heard-in-venezuelan-capital-656837.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuela-accuses-us-of-serious-military-aggression-after-explosions-rock-caracas-656844.html Caracas Jan 3 Venezuela in its first official statement since loud explosions were heard in the capital Caracas has strongly criticised the Donald Trumpled government of the United States accusing it of carrying out what it described as extremely serious military aggression according to local media reports In a sharp statement condemning Washington the Venezuelan government alleged that the attack appeared to be an attempt to seize Venezuelas strategic resources particularly its oil and minerals attempting to forcibly break the nations political independenceThe reaction came after residents of Caracas reported hearing loud explosions and sounds resembling aircraft flyovers early on SaturdayAccording to reports the incidents occurred around 200 am local time triggering panic across several parts of the Venezuelan capitalMedia reports indicated that at least seven loud explosions shook Caracas forcing residents to rush out onto the streets in fearVenezuelan President Maduro has declared a national emergency following the explosionsThe sudden blasts led to widespread anxiety with people reportedly fleeing their homes amid confusion and uncertaintyVideos circulating on social media show plumes of smoke rising from several locations in the capital cityHowever the authenticity of the images and videos could not be immediately verifiedAccording to reports brief power outages were also recorded in some areas of Caracas including at a military base in the city following the explosionsAuthorities have not yet released further details on the extent of damage or possible casualties as investigations continuePartial disruptions to telecommunication services were reported in the capital city following sounds of explosionsThis comes as US President Donald Trump has on several occasions warned about the possibility of ground operations in Venezuela as part of his strategy to oust President Nicolas Maduro intensifying sanctions augmenting military presence in the area and accusing ships of drug trafficking in both the Caribbean and PacificRecently the US administration announced sanctions against 10 entities and individuals based in Iran and Venezuela accusing Tehran of supplying conventional weapons to Caracas and threatening US interests across the Western Hemisphere including the US homelandIn separate statements the US Department of State and the US Department of the Treasury said a Venezuelan company targeted by the sanctions had been involved in the sale of millions of dollars worth of Iraniandesigned combat unmanned aerial vehicles UAVOther sanctioned entities and individuals were accused of supporting procurement networks linked to Irans drone and ballistic missile programs said the statementsThe entities and individuals designated today demonstrate Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missilerelated items in violation of UN restrictions State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott saidHe added that the Trump administration will take action to curb Irans ballistic missile program block its development of other conventional and asymmetric weapons and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weaponWe will continue to take swift action to deprive those who enable Irans militaryindustrial complex access to the US financial system said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K HurleyThe US Treasury Department also said that Irans UAV and missile programs threaten US and allied personnel in the Middle East and disrupt commercial shipping in the Red SeaRelations between the United States and Venezuela have also remained strained with Caracas repeatedly accusing Washington of pursuing regime change and expanding its military presence in the region under what the United States calls an antinarcoterrorism campaignAdditionally the CIA carried out a drone strike in December last year on a dock facility along the coast of Venezuela marking the first known land strike by the Trump administration inside the oilrich South American countryThe strike targeted a remote dock that US officials believed was being used by a Venezuelan gang to store drugs and transfer them onto boats for shipment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuela-accuses-us-of-serious-military-aggression-after-explosions-rock-caracas-656844.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/less-probe-more-propaganda-how-osman-hadi-killing-was-used-to-stoke-anti-india-sentiment-656849.html New Delhi Jan 3 The killing of antiIndia student leader Osman Hadi has turned into a spectacle with less probe and more propaganda The agencies have found that following the murder the game in Bangladesh was not to probe the incident but to externalise the issue Immediately after the murder the focus of Bangladesh was not on the probe Instead without any investigation being conducted Dhaka issued a statement stating that the accused had fled to IndiaAt the time of issuing that statement the probe had not even commenced and yet such a sweeping remark was madeThe Bangladesh foreign ministry then went on to summon the Indian High Commissioner and sought New Delhiâs cooperation to prevent the suspects from fleeing IndiaSyeda Rizwana Hasan the adviser at the Information Ministry said that India has assured Dhaka of extraditing Hadiâs killers if they had crossed over to IndiaThe statement came at a time when the Indian authorities and the West Bengal Police were making it clear that no such individuals had been arrested and there was no proof to suggest their presence on Indian soilAn official said that going by the sequence of events it became clear that these reactions by Bangladesh were deliberate They were aimed at fanning violence and launching a massive antiIndia campaign This was wellplanned and had the blessings of the ISI which is all over Bangladesh today the official saidSuch claims that Dhaka had made immediately ignited a wave of violent protests in the country Wellcoordinated mobs were already on standby to carry out these violent actsIn no time there were protests in Chittagong Dhaka and Rajshahi All the protests witnessed antiIndia slogans being raised They also demanded the extradition of Hadiâs killers A mob also marched towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka while in Chittagong the residence of the Indian envoy was surroundedAn Intelligence Bureau official said that this was all staged to drum up an antiIndia rhetoric During this period several deepfake videos were in circulation that further contributed to the antiIndia sentimentDuring this period the Bangladesh foreign ministry continued to summon the Indian High Commissioner and reiterate the concern that India was sheltering Hadiâs killers This worsened the situation and the protests worsened and a huge antiIndia rhetoric was drummed upIt did not just stop at with antiIndia protests There was also sudden rise in the number of Hindus being attacked during this period This however continues till dateAdding fuel to the fire was a video which was promoted aggressively on X by a handle named Pakistan Defence This video had falsely claimed that Al Jazeera had confirmed Indian involvement in the Hadi killingAnother TikTok video also did the rounds in which two random people were shown and the claim was that they were Hadiâs killersIt was claimed that the killers were at Garo Hills in Meghalaya The false narrative was however busted when Faisal Karim Masud who has been branded as the killer released a video statement He claimed that he had run away from Bangladesh for the fear of being targeted He clarified that he had travelled to Dubai and not DelhiHe also said that it was the operatives of the JamaatShibir who carried out the murder He also said that the association with Hadi was purely related to business and nothing moreOfficials say that while all this took place the investigation into the killing was never the top focus The idea was to fan an antiIndia and antiHindu sentiment and the ISIbacked elements successfully managed to do just thatAnother official said that this entire drama was coordinated by the ISIâs Dhaka Cell The idea behind creating this false narrative is to ensure that every Bangladeshi turns antiIndia Further there is an attempt to create a volatile situation so that the elections are postponed The ISI wants to make it appear that all of Bangladeshâs problems are because of India officials say IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/less-probe-more-propaganda-how-osman-hadi-killing-was-used-to-stoke-anti-india-sentiment-656849.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-stepping-up-espionage-disinformation-ops-against-india-intelligence-agencies-warn-656853.html New Delhi Jan 3 Indian Intelligence agencies have warned that the ISI would continue to try and expand its espionage network in India While many such cases were busted last year the agencies say that the Pakistan spy agency has been working relentlessly to expand the network In addition to this Pakistan also plans to run a massive disinformation campaign against IndiaCampaigns would be around spreading false narratives about the Indian armed forcesFurther the ISI also plans on roping in people as well some organisations to carry out protests while questioning policies of the government an official saidThis is part of the larger game plan of the ISI to make violence and terror as home grown as possible so that Pakistan would have the deniability factorAn official says running a false narrative instigating protests and creating deeper espionage networks is part of a larger plan and this also includes setting up of homegrown terror modules like the one that was busted in FaridabadPakistan is not immediately looking to sending its terrorists Post Operation Sindoor most of their terror networks are down Further infiltrations are hard to execute due to heavy securityIn addition to its India plans the ISI is also giving a lot of emphasis to Bangladesh where it wants to set up launch pads to hit the northeastern states another official saidAn Intelligence Bureau official said that among all the plans that the ISI has in mind the two most dangerous are the setting up of an espionage network and running a disinformation campaignPakistan is looking to engineer something on the lines of Bangladesh and Nepal where protests erupt across the country where a regime change would be demanded The campaign would look to defame the Indian armed forces so that the trust factor goes downThey want the armed forces to look weak in the eyes of the Indian people The ISI would also look to infiltrate every protest that is taking place so that it spreads far and wide while also turning violentIn the past the ISI has done it in some measure but now it would look to do something on a much larger scale the agencies have learntPakistan is also looking to build a massive espionage network Efforts to gather information especially about the armed forces have gone up multifold post Operation Sindoor the Intelligence Bureau official saidWhile honeytrapping would be the main tactic to build this network the ISI is also looking for people who have ideological leanings those who face financial hardships and ones with personal issues These persons are easy to trap as they remain vulnerableThe ISI is also ready to pump in a lot of money to build this network The information about the expansion of the espionage comes in the backdrop of reports that Pakistanâs army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is itching for a war with IndiaThe war for Munir is important since he lost face in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor He wants to also use this as a tactic to divert from the major issues that Pakistan is facingFurther he feels that he would have the backing of the United States if there is a military conflict with IndiaThese remain major challenges explained an official while also adding that the agencies need to remain on very high alertRecently the Union Home Ministry launched the National Counter Terrorism Policy The National Investigation Agency which created a common ATS structure has sent it to the state police forces This structure ensures that there is uniform preparation at every levelUnion Home Minister Amit Shah had said that all director generals of police must implement it This policy is an important one in the wake of Pakistan trying to relentlessly meddle in Indiaâs affairs and also threaten its national security officials say IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-stepping-up-espionage-disinformation-ops-against-india-intelligence-agencies-warn-656853.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelan-president-wife-captured-after-strikes-on-caracas-claims-trump-656855.html Washington Jan 3 US President Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro along with his wife has been captured and flown out of the country which came under largescale attack early Saturday Taking to his social media platform Truth Social Trump said The United States of America has successfully carried out a largescale strike against Venezuela and its leader President Nicolas Maduro who has been along with his wife captured and flown out of the CountryHe mentioned that this operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement and further details will follow during a news conference at 11 am local time at MaraLagoSeveral large explosions were heard early Saturday in Caracas the capital of VenezuelaVenezuela in its first official statement since loud explosions were heard in the capital Caracas strongly criticised the Donald Trumpled government of the United States accusing it of carrying out what it described as extremely serious military aggressionSoon after US media reported that Washington officials had confirmed strikes against VenezuelaMeanwhile the US Embassy in Bogota Colombia which also manages affairs in Venezuela released a statement advising Americans against travelling to Venezuela or its bordersUS Embassy Bogota is aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas Venezuela The US Embassy in Bogota Colombia warns US citizens not to travel to Venezuela US citizens in Venezuela should shelter in place the Embassy said in a statementThe highest Travel Advisory level Level 4 has been announced Level 4 states Do Not Travel due to severe risks to Americans including wrongful detention torture in detention terrorism kidnapping arbitrary enforcement of local laws crime civil unrest and poor health infrastructureAll US citizens in Venezuela have been strongly advised to depart immediatelyThe Embassy further mentioned that in March 2019 the US Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the US Embassy in Caracas and suspended operations All consular services routine and emergency remain suspended The US government has no ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Venezuela according to the official statementIn a sharp statement condemning Washington the Venezuelan government alleged that the attack appeared to be an attempt to seize Venezuelas strategic resources particularly its oil and minerals attempting to forcibly break the nations political independenceThe reaction came after residents of Caracas reported hearing loud explosions and sounds resembling aircraft flyovers early on SaturdayAccording to reports the incidents occurred around 200 am local time triggering panic across several parts of the Venezuelan capitalMedia reports indicated that at least seven loud explosions shook Caracas forcing residents to rush out onto the streets in fearVenezuelan President Maduro has declared a national emergency following the explosionsThe sudden blasts led to widespread anxiety with people reportedly fleeing their homes amid confusion and uncertaintyVideos circulating on social media show plumes of smoke rising from several locations in the capital cityAccording to reports brief power outages were also recorded in some areas of Caracas including at a military base in the city following the explosionsPartial disruptions to telecommunication services were reported in the capital city following sounds of explosions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelan-president-wife-captured-after-strikes-on-caracas-claims-trump-656855.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/firefighters-injured-in-massive-fire-in-us-state-colorado-656859.html Colorado Jan 3 A fivealarm fire erupted at an apartment construction site in Denver the capital of the US state of Colorado prompting evacuation alerts and injuring a firefighter The Denver Fire Department said the fire was reported at around 645 pm local time on Friday adding the building is a 283unit development in the early to midstages of construction with wood and some plastic materials used in wrapping and constructionThe fire department said on social media that crews are operating in heavy fire conditions and focusing on containment and exposure protection A fire department division chief said it rose to the level of about a fivealarm fire and that at least 100 firefighters had responded to the sceneOne firefighter was injured while battling the blaze and was taken to a hospital the Denver Fire Department told ABC News adding that it was not clear whether construction workers were present when the fire started reports Xinhua news agencyRobert Murphy division chief of operations at the Denver Fire Department told CBS News Its a complete city block and it is on fire and its unopposed because theres there are no fire stopsAn evacuation order covering two city blocks was issued following the incidentThe apartment complex had neither drywall nor insulation to contain the fire nor protection systems such as sprinklers in place allowing the blaze to spread rapidly from one end of the building to the otherFirefighting efforts continued for hours and by midnight the fire was largely under control but not fully extinguished Firefighters were expected to remain at the scene overnight to fully suppress remaining hot spotsA fivealarm is typically the highest alarm level for a fire in the United States indicating a catastrophic event requiring dozens of vehicles and more than 100 personnelFootage shot by a local outlet showed numerous firefighters spraying large volumes of water on the flames from ladder trucks while heavy smoke illuminated by bright red flames was visible from kilometres away IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/firefighters-injured-in-massive-fire-in-us-state-colorado-656859.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-orders-protection-of-its-nationals-in-venezuela-president-says-evacuation-plans-prepared-656865.html Seoul Jan 3 South Koreas President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials on Saturday to ensure the protection of Korean nationals in Venezuela and to prepare evacuation plans if necessary his office said Lees instruction came on the heels of a US military strike against the South American country confirmed by US President Donald Trump amid his administrations pressure campaign on Venezuelan leader Nicolas MaduroPresident Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to ensure the thorough protection of South Korean nationals in Venezuela and to meticulously prepare evacuation plans so they can be swiftly carried out in case the situation further worsens a Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson said in a message to the mediaThe foreign ministry in Seoul plans to convene an emergency meeting late Saturday to assess the situation and discuss response measures the spokesperson saidAround 70 South Korean nationals are staying in Venezuela including about 50 in the capital of Caracas where US strikes were reported No casualties involving South Koreans have been reported so far reports Yonhap news agencyThe ministry set up a task force for protecting overseas nationals following the attacks and is working with its diplomatic mission in Venezuela to ensure their safetyTrump announced the United States has carried out a largescale military strike against Venezuela and captured Maduro who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the USTaking to his social media platform Truth Social Trump said The United States of America has successfully carried out a largescale strike against Venezuela and its leader President Nicolas Maduro who has been along with his wife captured and flown out of the CountryHe mentioned that this operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement and further details will follow during a news conference at 11 am local time at MaraLago IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-orders-protection-of-its-nationals-in-venezuela-president-says-evacuation-plans-prepared-656865.html Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-warns-iran-against-violent-crackdown-as-us-hits-uav-networks-656652.html Washington Jan 2 IANS President Donald Trump on Friday issued a sharp warning to Iran saying the United States was prepared to act if Iranian authorities used deadly force against protesters as Washington announced a new round of sanctions targetting Tehrans weapons and drone networks linked to VenezuelanbspIn a 258 am local time social media post Trump said the United States would intervene if Iranian security forces shot and violently kill peaceful protesters adding that Washington was locked and loaded and ready to goIf Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters which is their custom the United States of America will come to their rescue We are locked and loaded and ready to go Trump said on Truth SocialnbspThe warning came as reports pointed to escalating unrest in Iran with media reports of deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces during nearly a week of unrestViolence erupted between Iranian protesters and police during unrest on Thursday leaving at least five dead on the fifth day of demonstrations over the countrys economic crisis The Wall Street Journal reportednbspThe daily said the demonstrations began on Sunday after merchants took to the streets to protest after a precipitous drop in the value of the rial the countrys currency International sanctions over Irans refusal to pare back its nuclear ambitions have led to widespread economic problems including high inflation and a devaluation of its currency it saidReacting to Trumps social media post li Larijani Secretary of Irans National Security Council warned the US against such a move The American people must know that Trump is the one who started this adventure and they should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers he wrote on XnbspWe distinguish between the position of the protesting merchants and the actions of the sabotage elements and Trump must realize that US intervention in this internal matter will lead to destabilizing the entire region and destroying American interests Larijani saidEarly this week the US State Department announced sanctions against entities and individuals accused of supporting Irans Unmanned Aerial Vehicle UAV and ballistic missile programmesnbspnbspn a statement Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the United States was sanctioning ten entities and individuals based in Iran and Venezuela including a Venezuelan company that had contributed to the sale of millions of dollars worth of Iraniandesigned combat Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVPigott said the designations also included entities and individuals linked to procurement networks that have supported Irans UAV and ballistic missile programsnbspIrans ongoing provision of conventional weapons to Caracas is a threat to US interests in our region he saidnbspAccording to the State Department the action underscored the importance of reimposing sanctions and restrictions on Iran under United Nations Security Council resolutionsThe entities and individuals designated today demonstrate Iran is actively proliferating its combat UAVs and continues to procure missilerelated items in violation of UN restrictions the statement saidnbspThe developments come against the backdrop of a longrunning standoff between Washington and Tehran over Irans nuclear program missile development and regional activities The United States has repeatedly used sanctions and diplomatic pressure to try to curb Irans weapons programmes https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-warns-iran-against-violent-crackdown-as-us-hits-uav-networks-656652.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 20:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-urges-restraint-as-china-drills-near-taiwan-656655.html Washington Jan 2 The United States voiced concern over Chinaâs largestever military exercises around Taiwan warning that Beijingâs actions and rhetoric risk unnecessarily escalating tensions in the region and undermining stability across the Taiwan Strait Responding to reports of the drills US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said China should step back from military pressure and pursue dialogueâChinaâs military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarilyâ Pigott said in a statement issued on January 1 âWe urge Beijing to exercise restraint cease its military pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogueâThe statement came as China concluded âJustice Mission 2025â a largescale military exercise conducted from December 29 to 31 involving coordinated operations by the Peopleâs Liberation Armyâs army navy air force and rocket forces The drills tested joint combat capabilities in a simulated noosestyle blockade around Taiwan including scenarios focused on sealing off key ports carrying out precision strikes and disrupting supply routesTaiwanese authorities said they detected 77 Chinese military aircraft and 17 naval vessels during the exercise period Taiwan responded by scrambling fighter jets and implementing defensive measures including deploying obstacles such as explosive barrels at river mouths as part of its readiness postureThe scale and timing of the drills prompted concern among several US allies and partners Governments and institutions in the European Union the United Kingdom Japan and Australia expressed unease over rising military pressure in the Taiwan Strait and warned that such actions increase the risk of miscalculationBeijing described the exercises as a warning to what it called separatist forces and linked them to recent developments in USTaiwan defense ties including an 111 billion American arms sale to Taipei Chinese officials have repeatedly characterized military activity around Taiwan as a response to external interferenceReiterating Washingtonâs position Pigott said âThe United States supports peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposes unilateral changes to the status quo including by force or coercionâUS officials have consistently stressed that stability in the Taiwan Strait carries global significance because of its role in international trade supply chains and regional security The latest drills described as the largest of their kind have intensified scrutiny of Chinaâs military posture toward TaiwanChinaâs President Xi Jinping in his New Yearâs address reaffirmed the goal of reunification with Taiwan a message delivered as the exercises concluded Taiwanâs government has rejected Beijingâs sovereignty claims and maintains that the islandâs future can only be determined by its peopleTaiwan has been governed separately from mainland China since 1949 and has developed its own democratic political system military and economy Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province and repeatedily asserted its goal to integrate it with the mainlandIn a recent report the independent Congressional Research Service said tensions involving Chinaâs military activities in the IndoPacific extend beyond the Taiwan Strait and form part of a broader pattern of coercion and pressure in contested maritime regionsThe report notes that US officials have long urged that disputes in the region be settled without coercion and in accordance with international law while maintaining freedom of navigation and overflightThe CRS report also underscores that the United States while recognizing the Peopleâs Republic of China as the sole legal government of China continues to operate under longstanding policy frameworks that support peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and oppose the use of force to alter existing arrangements These policies the report notes have guided US engagement in the region for decades and remain central to Washingtonâs approach amid rising regional tensions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-urges-restraint-as-china-drills-near-taiwan-656655.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bay-area-devotees-mark-ayodhyas-ram-mandir-milestone-656656.html Washington Jan 2 Hundreds of devotees gathered at a Hindu temple in Californiaâs Silicon Valley to observe the second anniversary of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya The programme was held a day ahead of the anniversary events in India Families elders and children attended from across the Bay Area The evening focused on prayer devotional music and community service dedicated to Lord RamOfficials at the Fremont Hindu Temple said the observance was aligned with the anniversary of the templeâs consecration in Ayodhya marked in India on December 31 Hindu temples and community groups across the United States held similar programmesProfessional bhajan singers from the region led Ram Dhuni and bhajans through the evening Devotees sat on the floor inside the prayer hall Many clapped softly and joined in the chants The hall remained full as the singing continuedVolunteers said the programme was planned as a devotional gathering not a staged cultural event The focus they said was shared worship and open participation The temple complex saw steady footfall throughout the eveningA priti bhoj was organised later in the programme Volunteers served prasad and traditional sweets to devotees Temple organisers said community members were able to sponsor the priti bhoj so more people could take partSeveral attendees said the event allowed them to feel connected to developments in Ayodhya despite the distance Temple officials noted that interest remained high reflecting the significance of the Ram Mandir for many in the Indian diasporaThe Fremont Hindu Temple is a major religious and cultural centre for Indian Americans in Northern California It regularly hosts large gatherings during Hindu festivals and important religious observances linked to events in IndiaThe Ram Mandir in Ayodhya stands at the site revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram The temple was consecrated in January 2024 after a Supreme Court verdict ended a decadeslong legal disputeSince then the temple has drawn large numbers of pilgrims and national attention in India For Hindu communities abroad including those in the United States the anniversary has become an occasion for prayer reflection and cultural connection IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bay-area-devotees-mark-ayodhyas-ram-mandir-milestone-656656.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congress-introduces-bill-to-designate-anti-communism-week-656657.html Washington Jan 2 Legislation has been introduced in the US Congress to designate the first week of November as AntiCommunism Week and to seek an annual presidential proclamation honoring victims of communist regimes worldwide according to a press release Introduced by Senator Rick Scott in the Senate the bill proposes to mark November 2 through 8 each year as AntiCommunism Week The measure also asks the President to issue a yearly proclamation calling on Americans to observe the weekScott said the legislation is meant to remember the victims of communist regimes and to reinforce American values of freedom and liberty He said communism has caused widespread suffering and death wherever it has taken holdâCommunism is one of the most destructive and deadly ideologies in human history responsible for the suffering and deaths of millions while crushing freedom wherever it takes holdâ Scott said âAs a nation founded on liberty and individual freedoms we must never forget these horrors or allow dangerous ideals to be repackaged idealized or sold to future generationsâScott said designating AntiCommunism Week would serve as a reminder of what he described as a brutal ideology He said it would also reaffirm Americaâs commitment to freedom and opportunitySenator Marsha Blackburn a cosponsor of the bill said the measure is needed to honor those who suffered under communist ruleâCommunism has claimed over 100 million lives by suppressing freedom erasing faith and destroying the prosperity that comes from hard workâ Blackburn said âThe AntiCommunism Week Act would designate November 2 through 8 as a time to honor those victims stand firm for liberty and ensure this destructive ideology ends up on the ash heap of historyâCompanion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives It is being led by Congresswoman MarÃa Elvira SalazarSalazar said many Americans no longer understand the history of communist regimes She said this is especially true among younger peopleâCommunism has left a trail of death suffering and shattered nations across the globe from Cuba to China from Venezuela to North Koreaâ Salazar said âToo many Americans especially in our schools are now dangerously unaware of the real history and real horrors behind these failed systemsâShe said the bill would create a formal time to educate the public It would also honor those who died under communist governmentsâThatâs why Iâm proud to lead the AntiCommunism Week bill which formally designates a week when we will reaffirm Americaâs commitment to freedom educate our youth about the deadly consequences of communist ideology and honor the memory of the tens of millions who have died under itâ Salazar said âIf we lose sight of history we risk repeating it This week isnât just symbolic itâs a necessary stand for liberty and truthâThe legislation builds on a proclamation issued earlier this year by President Donald Trump proclaiming AntiCommunism Week Supporters of the bill say the new measure would give that observance a permanent place in federal lawThe bill outlines congressional findings on the impact of communism It says communist regimes have taken more than 100 million lives worldwide It says those regimes sought to suppress freedom erase faith and deny basic human dignity It also warns against what it describes as renewed efforts to rebrand communist ideas under new names and slogansThe measure would amend Title 36 of the United States Code to officially recognize AntiCommunism Week It does not create new federal programs or funding Instead it requests that the President issue an annual proclamation and encourages public observances and educational activities during the weekAnticommunism has long shaped US politics and foreign policy especially during the Cold War when the United States confronted the Soviet Union and its allies That period influenced American security strategy diplomacy and global alliances for decadesEven after the Cold War ended US leaders have continued to frame relations with countries such as Cuba North Korea China and Venezuela through ideological and strategic competition In recent years debates over communism and socialism have also resurfaced in domestic politics with sharp divisions over the role of government economic policy and individual freedom IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congress-introduces-bill-to-designate-anti-communism-week-656657.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-expands-us-lobbying-through-think-tanks-firms-656658.html Washington Jan 2 Pakistan has stepped up its lobbying and public relations activity in the United States according to disclosures filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act The filings detail contracts and payments running into hundreds of thousands of dollars They involve the Pakistan government and Pakistanlinked organisations The outreach targets the US Congress the executive branch think tanks and the mediaOne filing shows that the Islamabad Policy Research Institute paid 900000 for lobbying and public policy outreach in the United States The institute is a Pakistanbased think tank affiliated with Pakistanâs National Security DivisionAccording to the disclosure Hyperfocal Communications LLC was registered in October 2024 as a subcontractor to Team Eagle Consulting LLC to perform the work The Foreign Agents Registration Act FARA filing states that the activity involved outreach to the US government aimed at improving USPakistan relationsAnother filing shows that the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington entered into a contract with Ervin Graves Strategy Group LLC effective October 1 2025 The agreement provides for a 25000 monthly payment for an initial threemonth termThe filing lists outreach to members of Congress and executive branch officials among the planned activities The scope of work also includes engagement with policy groups and think tanks It refers to issues such as regional stability economic development and democratic reformThe filing also mentions trade promotion tourism and Pakistanâs potential for rareearth mineralsSeparate filings show that Javelin Advisors LLC was registered in April to represent Pakistan under a formal consulting agreement dated April 24 Javelin disclosed a monthly fee of 50000 The firm said its work included communicating Pakistanâs positions on regional and global issues to the US executive branch Congress and the publicThe issues listed include the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and PakistanIndia relationsThe disclosures are likely to be closely tracked in India particularly references to lobbying activities aimed at communicating Pakistanâs positions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and PakistanIndia relations to the US executive branch Congress and the public as outlined in Javelin Advisors FARA filingsThe filings also reference a framework document circulated in May outlining proposed cooperation between Pakistan and the United States on rare earth minerals and critical metals The document submitted describes proposed cooperation covering exploration mining processing and integration into global supply chains It cites an indicative commercial value of up to 1 trillionAnother filing shows the Embassy of Pakistan hired Qorvis Holding Inc in May for public relations services The disclosure lists media outreach and narrative development among the activitiesUnder US law foreign governments and related entities are required to publicly disclose lobbying and public relations arrangements The filings provide records of contracts activities and payments made on their behalf IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-expands-us-lobbying-through-think-tanks-firms-656658.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/daughter-of-north-koreas-kim-pays-tribute-at-family-mausoleum-for-first-time-656659.html Seoul Jan 2 North Korean leader Kim Jonguns teenage daughter Juae has paid tribute at the family mausoleum for the first time accompanied by her father the Norths state media images showed on Friday Her first known attendance at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the North Korean leaders late father and grandfather lie in state came amid growing speculation about her presence in the North Korean communist dynastys potential successionKim his wife and Juae as well as key party and government officials visited the family mausoleum on New Years DayWhile the Norths Korean Central News Agency KCNA did not mention that Juae visited the family mausoleum state media photos showed the Kim family standing in the front row Juae was spotted in the centre with her parents standing on each sideIt marked the first known visit to the family mausoleum by Juae who first appeared in North Korean state media in 2022All the visitors made a firm pledge to fulfill their responsibility and duty in the vanguard of accomplishing the sacred cause for the eternal prosperity and development of the great DPRK and the promotion of the peoples wellbeing true to the ideas and leadership of Kim Jong Un with singleminded loyalty the KCNA reported using the acronym of North Koreas official name the Democratic Peoples Republic of KoreaThe mausoleum enshrines the embalmed bodies of the Norths founder Kim Ilsung grandfather of Kim and Kim Jongil a former North Korean leader and Kims fatherKim Jongun last visited the family mausoleum on the occasion of New Years Day in 2023 He paid respects to his father and grandfather on the first day of each year since taking power in 2012 but skipped such visits in 2018 2024 and 2025 Yonhap news agency reportedWhen asked about the significance of the visit Seouls unification ministry confirmed that it marked Kims first visit to the family mausoleum with his daughter that was made publicWe are closely watching as it is the first such visit Chang Yoonjeong deputy spokesperson at the ministry told a regular press briefing on FridayWe will continue to closely monitor activities by Chairman Kim Jonguns daughterOn Thursday Kim attended a largescale celebratory performance marking the new year in Pyongyang also accompanied by his wife and daughterVideo footage aired by the staterun Korean Central Television showed Juae seated next to him during the event Clad in a leather coat matching her fathers she was seen holding his hand and whispering to him as they watched the performance and kissing him on his cheek after the New Years countdown ended IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/daughter-of-north-koreas-kim-pays-tribute-at-family-mausoleum-for-first-time-656659.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/yunusgovt-has-not-done-enough-to-protect-minorities-in-bangladesh-says-us-congressman-656660.html Washington Jan 2 Raising concern over what he described as a worsening situation for religious minorities in Bangladesh Indian American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam said that Hindus and other minority communities are facing targeted violence and that the government in Dhaka has not done enough to protect them âFrom an American perspective we wanna make sure that people who visit Bangladesh arenât going to face any form of violence or backlash any sort of way because of their ethnicity or background or religionâ Subramanyam told IANS in an interview âIn this case weâve seen now multiple incidents of Hindus specifically being attacked in Bangladeshâ he saidThe Virginia Democrat said the attacks go beyond isolated incidents and reflect a broader pattern since the current government came to power âWe are concerned that the government is not doing enough to protect minorities in Bangladeshâ he said adding that Washington would need to assess how Dhaka intends to respondSubramanyam said the violence has included attacks on religious sites businesses and individuals âWeâve seen Hindu and other religious monuments and sites attacked and defaced Weâve seen businesses attacked and defaced that belong to Hindus and other religious minoritiesâ he said âAnd now weâre seeing people attacked and killed in several instancesâAcknowledging that political transitions can be volatile Subramanyam said the scale and persistence of the violence were troubling âWe understand that sometimes there are changes in governments and regimes and that thereâs often a lot of violence that follows that when itâs not a democratic processâ he said âBut in this case this has been happening since the government took overâHe said members of the Bangladeshi American community in the United States are increasingly alarmed âI have a lot of Bangladeshi American constituents who are both Hindu and Muslim and other religions and they are concerned about whatâs going on in Bangladeshâ Subramanyam said âThey have family there and they want us to try to figure out how we can protect minorities there moving forwardâThe congressman said the United States should continue to call out violence and hate crimes even as it considers possible diplomatic steps âWeâre gonna keep weighing some of our options in the US as to what we can do to make sure people are protected there regardless of their background or religion or raceâ he said âBut certainly in the meantime we have to call out acts of hate and acts of violenceâAsked whether Washington could pressure Dhaka on the issue Subramanyam said such efforts would require bipartisan cooperation âIt could Weâll see what happens thoughâ he said âWeâll have to work in a bipartisan way on something like thisâHe added that the Trump administration currently holds significant diplomatic leverage âCertainly the Trump administration has most of the sort of diplomatic power right now to put pressure on Bangladeshâ he said âWeâll see what they do as wellâWith Bangladesh headed toward elections Subramanyam expressed concern about whether minorities would be able to participate freely âWe would want to see a free and fair election where the voice of every citizen is taken into accountâ he said âWeâre concerned about the election process given all thatâs happened over the past couple of yearsâHe said Washington ultimately wants to work with any legitimately elected government âFrom an American perspective we wanna be able to work with any government that is successful in that electionâ he said âBut we wanna make sure that that government represents the will of the peopleâSubramanyam also warned that rising antiAmerican sentiment and violence could damage bilateral ties âItâs concerning especially the antiAmerican sentiment and the violenceâ he said adding that such actions could âreally hurt the relationship with the United StatesâBangladesh has historically projected itself as a secular democracy with constitutional protections for minorities even as human rights groups have periodically flagged concerns over political violence and religious intolerance The country is a key US partner in South Asia particularly on regional stability and counterterrorismWashington has previously used diplomatic engagement public statements and congressional scrutiny to raise concerns about human rights in Bangladesh especially during election cycles when minority safety and political freedoms tend to come under sharper focus IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/yunusgovt-has-not-done-enough-to-protect-minorities-in-bangladesh-says-us-congressman-656660.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-reports-over-2-000-measles-cases-in-2025-highest-since-1992-656661.html Los Angeles Jan 2 The United States reported more than 2000 measles cases in 2025 the highest annual total since 1992 according to the latest data released by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention CDC As of December 30 a total of 2065 confirmed measles cases had been reported nationwide with about 11 per cent of patients requiring hospitalisation The cases were reported across 44 US jurisdictions along with a small number of cases among international visitors to the United States the CDC saidThe figure marks the highest yearly tally since 1992 when 2126 measles cases were confirmed nationwideAccording to the CDC 49 outbreaks were reported in 2025 and outbreakassociated cases accounted for 88 per cent of all confirmed infectionsPatients aged 5 to 19 made up the largest share of the cases representing about 42 per cent of the totalThree confirmed deaths from measles were reported in the United States in 2025 Xinhua news agency reportedMeasles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 meaning there is no measles spreading within the country and new cases are only found when someone contracts measles abroad and returns to the country according to the CDCWith surges in measles cases and outbreaks last year public health experts have warned that the United States could soon lose its elimination status as Canada did in November 2025Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus It spreads easily when an infected person breathes coughs or sneezes It can cause severe disease complications and even deathMeasles can affect anyone but is most common in childrenMeasles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body Symptoms include a high fever cough runny nose and a rash all over the bodyBeing vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virusBefore the introduction of measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 26 million deaths each yearAn estimated 107 500 people died from measles in 2023 â mostly children under the age of five years despite the availability of a safe and costeffective vaccineSymptoms of measles usually begin 10â14 days after exposure to the virus A prominent rash is the most visible symptomEarly symptoms usually last 4â7 days They include Running nose cough red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeksThe rash begins about 7â18 days after exposure usually on the face and upper neck It spreads over about 3 days eventually to the hands and feet It usually lasts 5â6 days before fading IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-reports-over-2-000-measles-cases-in-2025-highest-since-1992-656661.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/touches-of-his-south-asian-heritage-sparkedat-mamdanis-inaugurationas-new-york-mayor-656669.html New York Jan 2 Zohran Mamdani brought touches of his South Asian heritage to his formal inauguration as this multicultural citys Mayor on New Years Day While acknowledging his parents during his speech he also gave a shoutout to relatives in DelhiHe is the son of Mira Nair a movie director and Mahmood Mamdani a Columbia University Professor from Uganda who claims Indian ancestryThank you to my parents Mama and Baba for raising me for teaching me how to be in this world and for having brought me to this city he said in his inaugural address on City Hall steps after being sworn inThank you to my family â from Kampala to Delhi he addedTwo of the three Korans that he used to take the oath of office belonged to his grandfather and his grandmotherBefore his swearingin a Hindu Arun Khosai and a Sikh Sandeep Kaur stood by with Christian and Jewish religious leaders as an imam from New York invoked Allah in a prayerMamdani made a culinary reference to his heritage in his speech while talking about making the city work for workers like those who feed us biryaniAnother nod to his heritage came from singer Babbulicious who sang Gaddi Red Challenger in a mix of Punjabi and English during the inauguration ceremonyBabbu Singh whose stage name is Babbulicious is also a social media influencer comedian artist and author of childrens booksMamdani clapped in rhythm to Babbulicious song as the singer wearing a pink turban jumped around the stageâNEW YORK VICH MUNDA RENDAAAAAâ Babbulicious posted on InstagramMaamdani had a line in his speech Logon ke dil badal gaye hein which he translated as softness in peoples heartsHe said a Pakistani Auntie named Samina told him that was how she perceived the effect of his movement on the cityWhile Mamdani mentions his fathers religion which he has embraced as his own he has been silent on the religion his mother was born into HinduismMamdani had a trifecta of firsts as he became the 111th or 112th Mayor the city is unable to count the number of Mayors before him and he acknowledged that in his speechHe is the first Muslim the first South Asian as he is generally referred to and the first born in AfricaHe spent his first five years in Uganda where he was born and the next two in South Africa where his father taught before landing in New York at the age of seven when the professor joined Columbia UniversityHe was given the middle name Kwame after the late Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah showing his link to AfricaMamdani is married to Rama Sawaf Duwaji an artist and illustrator of Syrian originShe was born in the US but spent her childhood in the Persian Gulf countries IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/touches-of-his-south-asian-heritage-sparkedat-mamdanis-inaugurationas-new-york-mayor-656669.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/baloch-human-rights-defender-writes-to-eam-jaishankar-flags-pakistans-rights-violations-in-balochistan-656672.html Quetta Jan 2 Leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch has written to External Affairs Minister EAM SJaishankar underscoring Pakistans occupation statesponsored terrorism and grave human rights atrocities faced by the people of Balochistan over the past seventynine years In a New Year message addressed to EAM Jaishankar the human rights activist commended what he described as the bold and resolute actions taken by the Indian Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modiâs leadership in 2025 through Operation Sindoor which dismantled Pakistanbacked terrorism hubs following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack last year Mir described these measures as a demonstration of Indiaâs exemplary courage and a steadfast commitment to regional security and justiceâOn behalf of the six crore patriotic citizens of the Republic of Balochistan we extend our deepest and most sincere congratulations for the New Year 2026 to the one hundred and forty crore people of Bharat both Houses of Parliament the media civil society and all esteemed individuals This auspicious occasion provides an opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the profound historical cultural commercial economic diplomatic defence and multifaceted ties that have bound Bharat and Balochistan for centuriesâ the letter detailedâThese enduring relations are exemplified by sacred sites such as the Hinglaj Mata Temple Nani Mandir which stands as a timeless symbol of our shared heritage and spiritual connectionsâ it addedMir reaffirmed unwavering support for India and its government in fostering âfriendship trust and mutual interests encompassing peace prosperity development trade defence security future energy challenges and the mitigation of concealed threatsâHe asserted that the people of Balochistan view the escalating strategic alliance between Pakistan and China as profoundly dangerous warning that China in collaboration with Pakistan has advanced the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC to its final phasesâShould the capabilities of Balochistans defence and freedom forces not be further bolstered and if they continue to be overlooked as per longstanding patterns it is conceivable that China could deploy its military forces in Balochistan within a few months The presence of Chinese boots on Balochistani soil without the will of the 60 million Baloch people would pose an unimaginable threat and challenge to the futures of both Bharat and Balochistanâ the human rights activist noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/baloch-human-rights-defender-writes-to-eam-jaishankar-flags-pakistans-rights-violations-in-balochistan-656672.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/myanmar-three-indian-nationals-trapped-in-cyber-scam-centres-repatriated-via-yangon-656685.html Yangon Jan 2 Three Indian nationals were repatriated from Myanmarâs Myawaddy cyber scam centres through Yangon the Embassy of India in Yangon informed on Friday following cooperation with Myanmar authorities and organisations âWith cooperation from Myanmar authorities and organisations 3 more Indian nationals from Myawaddy scam centres were repatriated via Yangon yesterday So far 2171 Indian nationals have been repatriated since July 2022 1757 since July 2024 We strongly advise against such job offersâ the Indian Embassy in Yangon posted on XEarlier on November 19 at least 125 Indian nationals were repatriated from Thailands Mae Sot to India aboard a special Indian Air Force IAF flightThe Indian nationals deported were detained in Mae Sot after they had entered Thailand from Myanmars Myawaddy where they were allegedly working in the cyber scam centresAccording to the Indian Embassy in Bangkok this brought the total number of Indians released from scam centres in Myawaddy and repatriated through Thailand since March to 1500As part of the Government of Indias efforts to secure the repatriation of Indians entrapped in scamcentres in SouthEast Asia the Embassy of India in Bangkok and the Consulate of India in Chiang Mai province in Thailand have worked in close coordination with various agencies of the Thai government and Tak Province to facilitate the repatriation of the Indian nationalsâIndian nationals are strongly advised to verify the credentials of foreign employers and check the antecedents of recruiting agents and companies before taking up a job offer overseas Further visafree entry into Thailand for Indian passport holders is meant for tourism and short business purposes only and should not be misused for taking up employment in Thailand the Embassy of India in Bangkok posted on XAdditionally 269 Indian nationals including 11 women were repatriated a day earlier through Mae Sot by two special flights operated by the IAFThe Indian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate of India in Chiang Mai in coordination with various agencies of the Royal Thai Government and the administration of Tak Province facilitated the repatriation process IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/myanmar-three-indian-nationals-trapped-in-cyber-scam-centres-repatriated-via-yangon-656685.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-backed-khalistan-network-expands-to-milan-injects-bangladesh-into-propaganda-656688.html New Delhi Jan 2 A poster has been in circulation in Milan Italy calling for a lockdown by the proKhalistan elements While one was aware of the presence of Khalistanis in Canada the United Kingdom Germany and Australia the poster featuring a protest in Italy signals a new shift Intelligence Bureau officials say that intercepts clearly suggest the Khalistanis are attempting to expand into more countries thereby increasing the reach of their messaging There is a clear attempt being made to project a transnational narrative relating to the Khalistan movementWhile the broader messaging is all about the creation of a separate Khalistan nation carved out of Punjab the new poster also speaks about the situation in Bangladesh The protest or lockdown in Milan is being promoted by Jagroop Singh and Gurpal Singh who are part of the proscribed outfit Sikhs for Justice SFJ This is the group that is heading the propaganda wing of the Khalistan movement It has been responsible for the various referendums that have been held in Canada the UK and AustraliaThe SFJ is headed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who has on many occasions called for the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while also circulating videos in which he has shown the Indian national flag being desecrated The organisers of this protest have linked the killing of terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar with the murder of antiIndia student leader Osman Hadi The Khalistan elements had blamed the Indian agencies for the killing of Nijjar in CanadaEven after the killing of Hadi a narrative was built up stating that it was India that was behind the murder The linking of the two cases by the Khalistani elements clearly shows that they are playing the script written by the ISI These elements are trying to get the attention of the international audience to suggest that India has been meddling in the affairs of other countries and carrying out extrajudicial killingsAn Intelligence Bureau official said that this is clearly the doing of the ISI Both the murders of Nijjar and Hadi are clearly an ISI hit job The ISI was aware that both these persons were antiIndia After carrying out the hit job the ISI is clearly trying to spread a narrative that India was behind both these murdersThe event in Milan is yet to take place and the agencies are on highalert to prevent the same Indian officials say that the expansion into Milan shows how the Khalistan movement is trying to expand It is also a sign of an evolving strategyThe ISIbacked Khalistanis are aware that the heat on them is rising especially in Canada and the UK They have already been making inroads in Australia and now want to enter Italy as well Officials say that these elements would try to enter other countries as well They are waging a narrative war against India and hope they will get support from as many countries as possibleIndian Intelligence agencies have found a surge in the number of propaganda materials being circulated on social media This is the first time that the Khalistanis have brought up the Bangladesh issue This has been done at the insistence of the ISI which wants to defame India in as many countries as possibleIn the runup to the elections in Bangladesh more such attempts would be made and the ISI would use the Khalistanis even more The idea is also to create an impression in the minds of the Bangladeshis that all their problems are courtesy of India IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-backed-khalistan-network-expands-to-milan-injects-bangladesh-into-propaganda-656688.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/broken-promises-spark-fresh-anger-in-pok-protests-expected-to-intensify-656694.html New Delhi Jan 2 The calm that was restored in PakistanoccupiedKashmir PoK in October is all set to end with talks being called off between the PoKâs Joint Awami Action Committee and the government In September protests had erupted in the region during which several organisations had made multiple demands relating to development The government of Pakistan intervened and agreed to fulfil all their demandsHowever now the committee has accused the government of orchestrating an eyewash and said that not a single demand has been met It has refused to hold any talks with the government thus signalling the start of protests once againAn Intelligence assessment says that the protests are likely to be bigger than the last time This is not the first time that the Pakistan government has gone back on its word This has left the people of the region extremely frustratedThe approach that the government has towards PoK is the same that one gets to witness in Balochistan People of both regions accuse the government and top Army officials of indulging in corruption They say that their resources are used and all developmental works are carried out in top cities of Pakistan while the two regions remain extremely neglectedThe Joint Awami Action Committee which had signed an agreement with the government on October now says that their demands must be fulfilled first At the time of the signing of the agreement it was decided that the committee and government would meet every 15 days to review the progress However such a meeting has taken place only thrice in the past three months which has led the committee of accusing the government of an eyewashThe government had also promised to remove the names of several committee members from the Exit Control List ECL It was also assured that the FIRs against them would be withdrawn and the issues relating to the refugee seats would be resolved However not a single demand has been met and this has angered the members of the committeeThe committee says that everything that the government has done since the October 3 agreement has been tripe A committee had been constituted by the government to address the issues of refugee seats However the committee would only address specific issues This the PoK committee says is nonsense and they want all issues to be resolved at onceIt further said that partial measures would not do and this time it is not buying into the assurances that the government is making Indian officials say that these developments are not surprising and this has been Pakistanâs stance always where PoK is concernedOfficials also warn if the issues are not sorted on an urgent basis then the protests could become intense and a spillover into India cannot be ruled outAnother official said that it is the Pakistan Army that calls the shots It has appointed several retired army officials to deal with middlemen in the region They are tasked with tapping into the resources available in PoK The people have accused these officials of diverting all the funds to the main parts of Pakistan while not making any improvements to the regionFurther a lot of funds that are generated from these resources are usurped by army officials who have been accused of large scale corruption These issues have also caused a stir within the army Recently a letter by the Guardians of Honour accused Field Marshal Asim Munir of incompetence oppression and corruptionAn official said that the Pakistan government has for long lied to the people of Pakistan by making false assurances It has done so yet again and the people of the region are getting impatientIt is just a matter of time before the situation in PoK would go beyond the control of the establishment in Pakistan the official also added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/broken-promises-spark-fresh-anger-in-pok-protests-expected-to-intensify-656694.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/afghanistan-sees-28-million-refugees-return-homeland-in-2025-official-656522.html Kabul Jan 1 Around 28 million Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland Afghanistan in 2025 according to the countrys Ministry of Economy About 28 million refugees returned home in a year The economy has grown and the hopes have increased for further economic stability in the future the Radio and Television of Afghanistan RTA quoted the ministrys spokesperson Abdul Rahman Habib on Wednesday night as sayingHabib did not give more details on the return of Afghan refugeesHowever Habib noted that the Afghan government would continue to support the private sector foreign investment and implement major development projects to increase local products as part of an economic strategy to stabilise the national economy create job opportunities and eventually alleviate poverty reports Xinhua news agencyMillions of Afghan refugees had been living in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran in the past more than four decades escaping war and civil unrestEarlier on Wednesday over 2000 Afghan refugees were repatriated from Pakistan and Iran in a single day a Taliban official saidSharing the High Commission for Addressing Migrants Issues report on X Taliban deputy spokesperson Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 450 families comprising 2254 people returned to Afghanistan on Tuesday Pajhwok Afghan News reportedHe said that Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar the Bahramcha crossing in Helmand the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar the Islam Qala crossing in Herat and PuliAbresham in NimrozHe noted that 199 returning families comprising 1018 people were taken to their respective home areas while 417 families were provided humanitarian assistanceMullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated that telecommunication firms provided 390 SIM cards to returning refugeesAs many as 2827 Afghan migrants were deported from Iran and Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/afghanistan-sees-28-million-refugees-return-homeland-in-2025-official-656522.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-textile-industry-plunges-into-deep-crisis-report-656527.html New Delhi Jan 1 Pakistanâs textile industry which was once the driver of economic growth in the country has plunged into a deep crisis with factories shutting down due to high production costs Once celebrated for its export potential and capacity to drive industrial growth Pakistanâs textile sector is now grappling with a convergence of structural economic and logistical shocks that have eroded competitiveness shuttered factories and destabilised livelihoods across the value chain From collapsing cotton production to soaring energy costs from regional competition to policy missteps and now a nationwide transport strike the industry stands at a critical inflection point a report in the UKâs Daily Mirror saidThe Pakistan Textile Exporters Association PTEA has pointed out that textile exports have declined for the fourth month in a row raising concerns about the sectorâs longterm viabilityThe article cites PTEA General Secretary Azizullah Goheer saying that Pakistan has failed to surpass or even maintain the FY2021 export benchmark of 193 billion Instead exports slipped to 18 billion then 17 billion and continue to fall Between July and November 2025 alone exports dropped by 639 per cent from 13721 billion to 12844 billion signalling a persistent downward trajectoryPakistanâs textile sector is losing ground to regional competitors as the high cost of energy tariffs taxes and financing costs has hit the countryâs competitiveness Exporters have pointed out that Bangladesh India China and Vietnam have all gained market share at the cost of Pakistan as they have lower production costs and the governments of these countries have put more stable policies in placeAt the heart of the crisis lies the collapse of Pakistanâs cotton economy Outdated agricultural practices poor seed quality and inadequate research investment have led to a dramatic decline in cotton production and quality the article statedAccording to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq more than 100 spinning mills and 400 ginning factories have already shut down National cotton output has fallen from 15 million bales to 55 million balesCotton prices have crashed to Rs 8000 per 40 kg pushing farmers into financial distress and accelerating the shift from cotton to sugarcane cultivation This shift threatens to increase Pakistanâs reliance on edible oil imports further straining foreign exchange reserves the report statesThe ginning sector is reported to be struggling under a hefty 86 per cent combined sales tax on cotton cottonseed oil and oilcake Meanwhile textile units are being asked to clear decadeold gas dues compounding liquidity pressures The situation has been worsened by recent amendments to the Export Facilitation Scheme EFS which have resulted in exporters having to pay more taxesEnergy costs are a major burden with electricity tariffs projected to reach 12 cents per kWh by FY26 which is much higher than the 5â9 cents per kWh paid by competitors in the region Exporters claim that this disparity alone makes Pakistani textiles uncompetitive in global markets Frequent power outages voltage fluctuations and grid instability which damage machinery and disrupt production schedules are adding to the problem IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-textile-industry-plunges-into-deep-crisis-report-656527.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/political-vendetta-by-pak-authorities-baloch-rights-group-after-courts-grant-bail-to-detained-leaders-656528.html Quetta Jan 1 Human rights organisation Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC asserted that consecutive bail orders issued by multiple courts across Balochistan underscore the âbaseless fabricated and politically motivated nature of the casesâ filed against its peaceful leadership by the Pakistani authorities According to the BYC its chief organiser Mahrang Baloch and the other leaders including Beebarg Baloch Shahji Baloch Gulzadi Baloch and Beebow Baloch have been unlawfully detained for the past ten monthsThe rights body said the BYC leaders were initially held under the Maintenance of Public Order 3MPO for three months a law that allows âpreventative detentionâ based on the governmentâs assessment of âpotential threats to public orderâ Their detention was however extended through what the BYC described as âpolitically motivated FIRsâDespite these cases being bailable the BYC alleged that their incarceration has been prolonged through repeated remands deliberate delays in submitting investigation reports and systematic procedural obstructionâOn December 30 the AntiTerrorism Court ATC in Kalat granted bail to the leadership of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC in four FIRs Earlier on December 29 bail was granted in two ordinary FIRs registered in Mastung In Quetta the City Court granted bail in four FIRs and on December 31 bail was also approved in two ordinary FIRs in Saryab Quettaâ read a statement issued by the BYCThe rights body stated that the Pakistani courts have âexplicitly observed that the FIRs lack substantive grounds and that the activities attributed to BYC leaders fall squarely within their constitutionally protected right to freedom of expressionâHowever it said in multiple cases despite investigations being completed bail continues to be withheld in some courts resulting in the continued detention of peaceful BYC leadersThe BYC asserted that allegations against its leadership do not involve violence or criminal conduct rather they stem from âpolitical hostility and fear of a nonviolent movementâ that has gained popular support by speaking out against enforced disappearances human rights violations and systemic injustice in BalochistanâThe bail orders already granted leave no room for doubt these cases pertain to peaceful political activity and freedom of expression rights explicitly protected under Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan When identical cases result in bail across multiple jurisdictions but remain stalled before the Quetta AntiTerrorism Court serious concerns arise regarding equality before the law and the credibility of judicial independenceâ the BYC stressedThe rights body appealed to international human rights organisations to raise their voices for the immediate release of BYC leaders and to take urgent measures to ensure the protection of human rights defenders in Balochistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/political-vendetta-by-pak-authorities-baloch-rights-group-after-courts-grant-bail-to-detained-leaders-656528.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 01:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-and-pakistan-exchange-lists-of-prisoners-nuclear-installations-656537.html New Delhi Jan 1 India on Thursday called for early release and repatriation of civil prisoners fishermen along with their boats and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistans custody As both countries exchanged through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each others custody the Ministry of External Affairs MEA stated that Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 167 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners who have completed their sentenceIndia has shared lists with details of 391 civil prisoners and 33 fishermen in its custody who are Pakistani or believedtobePakistani Similarly Pakistan has shared lists with details of 58 civil prisoners and 199 fishermen in its custody who are Indian or believedtobeIndian read a statement issued by the MEAThe Government of India has called for early release and repatriation of civil prisoners fishermen along with their boats and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistans custody Pakistan has also been urged to expedite the release and repatriation of 167 Indian fishermen and civil prisoners who have completed their sentence In addition Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to 35 civil prisoners and fishermen in Pakistans custody who are believedtobeIndian and have not been provided consular access so far it addedUnder the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008 such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and on July 1New Delhi asserted that it has asked the government of Pakistan to ensure the safety security and welfare of all Indian and believedtobeIndian civil prisoners and fishermen pending their release and repatriation to IndiaAs a result of the sustained efforts by the Government of India 2661 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civil prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014 This includes 500 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date the MEA statement mentionedThe two countries also exchanged on Thursday through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad the list of nuclear installations and facilities covered under the agreement on the prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installation and Facilities between India and PakistanThe Agreement which was signed on 31 December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991 provides inter alia that India and Pakistan inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first January of every calendar year This is the 35th consecutive exchange of such lists between the two countries the first one having taken place on 1 January 1992 another MEA statement detailed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-and-pakistan-exchange-lists-of-prisoners-nuclear-installations-656537.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-implements-online-system-to-track-foreign-nationals-656555.html Kathmandu Jan 1 Nepal has implemented the Foreign Nationals Management Information System FNMIS to ensure the safety of foreign nationals visiting the country and to control potential crimes involving foreign nationals Developed by the Department of Immigration the FNMIS is a nationwide digital database designed to collect realtime information on foreign nationals from the moment they apply for a visa until they leave the Himalayan nationAll entities â including hotels airlines travel and trekking agencies money exchange counters and other service providers offering services to foreign nationals â are required to register in the system to ensure its effective implementationAlthough the department stated that the system would be mandatorily implemented at starrated hotels within the Kathmandu Valley starting Thursday in the first phase many other service providers had also registered with the system by Thursday afternoon âAs many as 1416 tourism service providers including hotels travel companies and money exchangers joined the system by Thursday afternoonâ Tikaram Dhakal a Director at the department told IANSAs per the plans announced earlier by the immigration authority the system will be implemented across all starrated hotels nationwide airlines tour and travel companies and money exchangers in the second phase starting from March 1 It will then be progressively extended to all types of hotels guest houses and services provided by other public and private institutionsâOne of the reasons behind implementing this system is to track foreign nationals in Nepal enabling the government to control possible criminal activities involving themâ Dhakal said âAnother reason is to ensure prompt rescue operations for foreign tourists visiting remote and inaccessible parts of the Himalayan country during times of crisisâHe added that foreign nationals have been found involved in activities such as cryptocurrency transactions and datingapp scams under the cover of registered technology companies religious conversion and teaching the Quran and the Bible beyond the scope of their visa categoriesThe department said the system mainly aims to ensure that foreigners engage only in activities permitted under their visa category while improving visitor safety and emergency response mechanisms IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-implements-online-system-to-track-foreign-nationals-656555.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 04:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/amsterdams-iconic-church-destroyed-by-fire-656560.html The Hague Jan 1 The iconic Vondelkerk church in the Dutch capital Amsterdam was almost destroyed by a fire early Thursday morning the Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported The flames broke out shortly before 1 am local time 0000 GMT in the church tower located in Vondelpark said the reportNo injuries were reported it said adding that dozens of nearby homes were evacuated as winds hurled burning debris into surrounding streets with evacuated residents temporarily sheltered in a nearby yoga studioFirefighters and emergency crews worked through the night to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to adjacent residential buildings Xinhua news agency reportedInvestigation is underway to determine the cause of the fireBuilt in 1872 the Vondelkerk served as a Roman Catholic church until 1977 and has since been used as a venue for events and small businessesAccording to Stadsherstel Amsterdam the largest organisation in the Netherlands dedicated to restoring heritage sites monuments and cultural landmarks the Vondelkerk dates from 1872 and for many years it was a wellattended church also known as the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus named after the Catholic parish that worshipped thereAround a century later due to secularization the badly neglected building was threatened with demolition However a plan to restore and repurpose the church was developed a foundation was established in 1980 to make it possible and hence the beautiful building has survived to this day the organisation statesIt mentioned that the neoGothic crossbasilica was designed by the famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers and named after the 17thcentury poet Joost van den Vondel Cuypers also designed Central Station the Rijksmuseum and dozens of churches throughout the Netherlands IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/amsterdams-iconic-church-destroyed-by-fire-656560.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 04:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-shifted-toward-realism-on-ukraine-conflict-eu-moved-the-opposite-way-report-656569.html New Delhi Jan 1 Washingtonâs âchange in approachâ towards the war in Ukraine and United States President Donald Trump becoming âthe first Western leader to engage Russiaâ were termed the most consequential political developments of the year by Moscowâs global television network âFor the first time since the conflict escalated in 2022 Ukraine went through an entire year without launching a major theatreshaping offensive The contrast with previous years is starkâ according to an article published on the website of RT the statecontrolled international news television network âAfter three years in which politics tried to outrun the battlefield 2025 marked a significant reversal Ukraine has begun to collapse narratively economically and militarily For the first time since the conflict escalated there was no Ukrainian offensive whatsoever never mind one capable of reshaping the front linesâ said the article However the most consequential political development of the year was not Russiaâs breakthrough on the front lines but a change in Washingtonâs approach The commentary referred to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyâs recent US visit where he sought President Trumpâs backing for a revised 20point peace plan Sundayâs meeting ended after more than three hours of talks in Florida with neither leader announcing any breakthrough âTrumpâs initiative effectively doorstepping Zelensky with a peace proposal just as his international reputation slumped over a 100 million corruption scandal involving his close associates was not about sympathy for Moscow but on the reality that wars between major powers end through negotiated settlement not narrative victoryâ claimed the unsigned article Incidentally Trump had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the Zelensky meeting While the US President appeared noncommittal in backing Zelenskyâs peace plan even before the meeting Russia had termed it âradically differentâ from the one it was working on with Washington The article emphasised Ukraineâs position and WashingtonMoscow relations stressing the security interests of the US and Russia âThe âspirit of Anchorageâ as it came to be described rested on a simple premise peace in Ukraine is inseparable from a broader stabilisation of USRussia relations and any settlement must respect the security interests of both sidesâ the report said referring to the TrumpPutin meeting in the Alaskan city The report was critical of Europeâs stand noting âWhile Washington shifted toward realism the European Union moved in the opposite directionâIt claimed that under the leadership of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and VicePresident Kaja Kallas the European Union has âfully fused its political identity with Ukraineâs maximalist position moving from stakeholder to partisanâAccording to earlier reports Ursula von der Leyen has been emphasising the importance of Ukraines accession to the European Union as a guarantee of peace where the blocâs enlargement will benefit not only the countries that join but also Europe itself âEurope insisted on framing the conflict primarily in ideological terms â democracy versus authoritarianism good versus evil â and treated compromise as moral failure rather than diplomatic necessity That posture placed Brussels fundamentally at odds with the logic emerging from Washington after Anchorageâ asserted the article It said that the gambit to steal Russian assets frozen in the bloc failed rubberstamping the blocâs diplomatic irrelevance to any peace process it continuedIt added that the EU was not removed from negotiations by conspiracy or hostility it removed itself by making meaningful mediation impossible In an apparent reference to Moscowâs own peace plans the article stated âZelensky is no longer âwinningâ and the war will not be fought âfor as long as it takesâ Peace frameworks have been drafted elsewhere Texts have been exchanged between major powers before Kiev sees them It is invited to comment amend and react â not to define the processâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-shifted-toward-realism-on-ukraine-conflict-eu-moved-the-opposite-way-report-656569.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 05:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nearly-one-million-intl-tourists-visited-cambodias-angkor-heritage-site-in-2025-656571.html Phnom Penh Jan 1 Cambodias famed Angkor Archaeological Park welcomed a total of 955131 international visitors in 2025 a yearonyear decrease of 67 per cent the sites operator said on Thursday The UNESCOlisted world heritage site earned 447 million US dollars in revenue from ticket sales last year also down 65 per cent said the press release from the stateowned Angkor EnterpriseMain sources of foreign tourists to the park were the United States Britain France China and South KoreaIn December 2025 the park received 87936 foreign tourists generating 423 million US dollars down 30 per cent and 285 per cent respectively compared to the same month in 2024 the press release saidLocated in northwest Siem Reap province the park is home to 91 ancient temples which were built from the ninth to the 13th centuriesThong Mengdavid Deputy Director at the ChinaASEAN Studies Centre of the Cambodia University of Technology and Science CamTech in Phnom Penh said the Cambodian governments new pilot visafree policy for Chinese citizens from June 15 to October 15 2026 is likely to be a longterm catalyst for Cambodias tourism growth lowering travel barriers and encouraging more firsttime and repeat visitorsIf Cambodia pairs this policy with targeted promotions smoother digital services and stronger tourism infrastructure Chinese arrivals to the Angkor Archaeological Park could surpass prepandemic momentum in the coming years and reinforce the sites position as one of Asias most iconic cultural destinations he told Xinhua news agencyIndia was the first country to extend support for the restoration work of the ancient temple at Angkor Wat the worlds largest ancient temple complex in Cambodia and a magnificent symbol of IndiaCambodia shared civilisational heritageIndia has long been associated with the temple restoration work in CambodiaThe first restoration work was carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India ASI in Cambodia at Angkor Wat temple from 1986 to 1993 which is a world heritage site of UNESCO and an important tourist destination in Cambodia visited by millions of tourists every yearIndia was the first country to offer such assistance on an appeal by the Cambodian Government in 1980 and is still appreciated by the Cambodian leadership and public alikeAdditionally on Cambodias request India also agreed to restore the Ta Prohm temple in Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap ASI has been working on this project since 2003 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nearly-one-million-intl-tourists-visited-cambodias-angkor-heritage-site-in-2025-656571.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/grassroots-solidarity-spreads-across-indonesia-after-deadly-sumatra-floods-landslides-656573.html Jakarta Jan 1 In the wake of floods and landslides in Aceh West Sumatra and North Sumatra that have claimed more than 1100 lives and left many residents without homes food or a sense of security a broad network of assistance has taken shape stretching from small community kitchens to largescale volunteer initiatives across the country Britania Sari one of the initiators of the relief efforts has just returned to her home in Bogor West Java after overseeing the dispatch of six trucks carrying clothes water filters medicines sleeping mats mosquito nets and retort food to the disasterhit areasShe began mobilising aid independently on December 2 2025 after posting an appeal on social media The call quickly drew responses from volunteers and institutions in different regionsWe divided the tasks volunteers in the affected areas mapped the needs of evacuees while those of us outside focused on fundraising Britania told Xinhua news agency recentlyReadytoeat retort food has become a key form of assistance Packaged rice tubers vegetables and animal and plantbased proteins are easy to distribute have a long shelf life and can be consumed without cookingAccording to Britania the conditions in disasterstricken parts of Sumatra have made raw food largely unusable as many residents have lost cooking equipment access to clean water and communal kitchens She said lessons learned from previous disasters such as the eruption of Mount Semeru showed that retort food was among the most practical options for survivalDelivering aid however has been challenging due to the vast affected areas and damaged transportation infrastructure The six trucks have reached dozens of major relief points in Padang Langsa Lhokseumawe and Gayo Lues regencies where local volunteers redistributed supplies to more remote locationsClose coordination was required to prevent aid from piling up in one area while other communities were left unattended In remote regions such as Gayo Lues some supplies had to be transported by helicopter with limited carrying capacityBritania said public support has been overwhelming yet still insufficient Many isolated communities remain difficult to reach and a large number of evacuees have lost their livelihoodsAlthough she has returned to Bogor donations continue to arrive On Tuesday she helped unload another truck carrying water purification equipment clothing and food while additional supplies are scheduled to be shipped by sea in cooperation with the Indonesian Red CrossIn January 2026 Britania and other volunteers plan to focus on building sanitation facilities as such infrastructure remains limited while hundreds of thousands of people continue to live in evacuation tentsSolidarity has also come from small businesses In the student city of Yogyakarta Muflih Kholidin owner of Warung Makan Nusantara a food stall has been providing free meals to students from affected regions who have lost access to basic logisticsWe are committed to helping them until their hometowns recover and their parents can rebuild their livelihoods Muflih saidMore than 20 menu options are offered daily and the food stall has become a space for sharing stories where laughter tears and relief are exchanged around dining tables Some students recount homes buried in mud rice fields destroyed and families still displacedFor Muflih listening to their stories is as important as serving warm rice At times he personally delivers dozens of readytoeat meal packages to students boarding housesHe believes modest kitchens like his can act as bridges of empathy between those who have suffered and those eager to helpDespite lingering mud and a slow recovery these collective social initiatives stand as a vivid testament to the depth of solidarity embedded in Indonesian society IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/grassroots-solidarity-spreads-across-indonesia-after-deadly-sumatra-floods-landslides-656573.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-farmers-fishermen-lose-land-and-livelihoods-to-big-power-plants-656575.html New Delhi Jan 1 A recent photo exhibition by Bangladeshi photographer Noor Alam at a gallery in Tokyo depicted the sad story of the fishing and farming communities in the Matarbari region of southeastern Bangladesh are struggling to survive after losing their land and livelihoods to coal and gasfired power plants that are being set up in the region Bangladeshi consumers are already bearing the brunt of high electricity bills a situation set to worsen if reliance on expensive imported LNG continuesThe report cites examples of farmers being displaced from their ancestral lands where a huge coal power plant has been set up They are now putting up in crowded settlements where they are struggling to eke out a living as their children grow up with a lack of basic facilities such as enough space to playThe report highlights heartrending stories of thousands of betel leaf and salt farmers and fishermen being forcibly evicted from their land and livelihoods by the power authorities without even the promised compensation Now they have nowhere to goThe report also highlights that after having successfully prevented a massive new coalfired power station Bangladeshis in the Chattogram division are being pushed by foreign interests to accept huge polluting liquefied natural gas LNG power plants and infrastructure according to a report in The DiplomatNew LNG power projects and import terminals will cost the Bangladesh economy 50 billion according to a recent Market Forces report threatening the safety and health of millions of Bangladeshis due to toxic pollution and worsening climate disasters such as floods and cyclones the report statesThe report highlights that as Bangladesh faces brutal heatwaves and demand for power soars 50 billion is poised to be invested in the LNG industry which will make global warming worse However 36 billion spent on gas power plants could instead be used to make Bangladesh a clean energy powerhouse by enabling 62 Gigawatts of renewable power over two times the countryâs current total electricity generation capacity IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-farmers-fishermen-lose-land-and-livelihoods-to-big-power-plants-656575.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:30:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/grenade-blast-injures-22-during-new-year-celebration-in-philippines-656579.html Manila Jan 1 At least 22 people were injured when a grenade exploded in a residential area in Cotabato province in southern Philippines shortly after midnight on Thursday local police said Police said two men riding on a motorcycle lobbed the fragmentation grenade at the crowd as residents were welcoming the New Year along the national highway in Matalam townBased on witnesses accounts police said a black motorcycle slowed down as it passed the area where people were celebrating One of the two men riding the motorcycle allegedly threw what was believed to be a hand grenade before speeding away Xinhua news agency reported Seconds later the explosive detonated sending shrapnel flying and hitting several people mostly on their lower extremitiesThe injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment Authorities have not yet released details on the condition of the victimsPolice have launched a manhunt operation and are coordinating with local officials and community members to identify the suspectsSecurity has also been tightened in the area to prevent similar incidents as investigations continueLast month following the death of two soldiers in explosions from antipersonnel landmines in Camarines Sur province on Luzon island the Philippine army had said that it has intensified pursuit operations against the New Peoples Army NPA rebelsThe NPA has waged a decadeslong insurgency since 1969 seeking to overthrow the governmentThe group continues to operate mainly in rural areas across Luzon the Visayas and Mindanao though security officials say its ranks have sharply declined in recent yearsAccording to the military the NPAs current strength is estimated at around 1000 fighters far below its peak of roughly 25000 in the mid1980sMeanwhile the number of fireworkrelated injuries recorded during the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the Philippines dropped by 42 per cent compared with the same period of last year the countrys Department of Health DOH said on ThursdayFrom December 21 2025 to January 1 2026 the DOH recorded 235 fireworkrelated injuries significantly lower than the 403 cases logged during the same period last yearDespite the decline the DOH said the figure may still increase as surveillance continues until January 5 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/grenade-blast-injures-22-during-new-year-celebration-in-philippines-656579.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/downed-250-ukrainian-drones-including-12-targetting-moscow-russian-defence-ministry-656587.html Moscow Jan 1 Russian air defences have downed 250 drones over the past day including 12 targetting the Moscow region overnight Russias Defence Ministry said Thursday The air defences also shot down one guided aerial bomb and a Ukrainian Su27 aircraft the ministry saidRussian forces have hit Ukrainian energy facilities ammunition depots drone assembly sites as well as 154 temporary deployment sites of the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries it addedRussias Ministry of Defence on Wednesday released a flight map and video footage showing the wreckage of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs used in an attempted attack on the official residence of Russian President Vladimir PutinAt a regular briefing the ministry presented footage of the intercepted drones showing black UAV fragments wooden structural components and red electrical wiring scattered in the snow at the interception sitesThe ministry also published a detailed flight map tracing the drones routes Xinhua news agency reported According to the map the UAVs were launched from Ukraines Sumy and Chernihiv regions with some flying over Russias Bryansk Smolensk and Tver regions before being destroyedThe map indicates that part of the drones followed a neardirect eastward route while others took a longer path flying close to the RussiaBelarus border through the Bryansk and Smolensk regions and later near the border between the Tver and Pskov regionsInterception points marked on the map show that the drones were downed over the Bryansk Smolensk and Novgorod regions the ministry saidThe ministry added that the attempted attack occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday caused no casualties and resulted in no damage to Russian territory or the presidential residence IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/downed-250-ukrainian-drones-including-12-targetting-moscow-russian-defence-ministry-656587.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 07:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/concerns-raised-over-pakistans-possible-role-in-post-war-gaza-isf-report-656591.html Washington Jan 1 Pakistanâs potential participation in the USinitiated postwar Gaza International Stabilisation Force ISF could undermine efforts aimed at dismantling Hamass military infrastructure a report said on Thursday It warned that a mission designed to stabilise Gaza and dismantle Hamas entrusting security responsibilities to Pakistan which openly legitimises the terror group risks turning the stabilisation force into a disguised risk for Hamass survivalâIsraeli officials report that three countries have agreed to Washingtons request to participate in a postwar Gaza International Stabilization Force The identities of all three have not been disclosed though Indonesia may be one of them Earlier reports also identified Pakistan as a possible contributor to the ISFâ a report in New Yorkbased think tank Gatestone Institute highlightedâIn addition Pakistan does not officially recognise Israel and has never designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation It may well have an interest in making sure that Hamas can continue its âresistanceâ meaning terrorismâ it statedAccording to the report Pakistans military and its primary intelligence agency the InterServices Intelligence ISI have long been accused of cultivating ties with Islamist militant organisationsFor decades it said the ISI fostered Pakistanbased groups such as LashkareTaiba LeT and JaisheMohammed JeM whose ideologies closely align with Hamas Such connections the report argued cast doubt on Pakistans ability to counter Hamas in a postwar Gaza settingâSince the October 7 2023 massacre Pakistans posture toward Hamas has become increasingly encouraging Hamas representatives have been allowed to operate freely on Pakistani soil participate in public events and build alliances with Pakistanbased terror outfits Such behaviour directly undermines Western efforts to isolate Hamas and raises questions about whether the United States should continue to regard Pakistan as a âmajor nonNATO allyââ the report detailedHighlighting another major risk involving Pakistan notably intelligence leakage it said âIf deployed in Gaza Pakistani units could quietly pass sensitive information to Hamas or its regional backers under the guise of cooperation Reports have previously alleged ISI involvement in facilitating Hamas outreach across South Asia including visits to Bangladesh and Pakistanoccupied Jammu and Kashmir to energise jihadist networksâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/concerns-raised-over-pakistans-possible-role-in-post-war-gaza-isf-report-656591.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-village-first-strategy-redefines-security-and-development-report-656594.html Hanoi Jan 1 Indiaâs shift towards a villagefirst strategy at its core redefines the idea of security by recognising that empowered villagers â integrated to the economy digitally connected and included in mainstream development schemes â are inherently more secure a report said on Thursday âIndia is investing in its border villages â empowering residents improving infrastructure and building security through development and dignity This forwardlooking strategy has been part of a broader national vision to ensure that those living on the frontier not only survive but thriveâ a report in Vietnam Times detailedThe report emphasised that Indiaâs forward strategy rests on the principle that empowered vibrant villages help build resilient areasâRather than viewing border settlements solely through a security lens policymakers have embraced development as a core component of nation This philosophy echoes across multiple programmes designed to improve the quality of life for villagers while simultaneously reinforcing Indiaâs sovereign presence along its frontiersâ the report statedâThis approach draws inspiration from initiatives like the Vibrant Villages Programme VVP under which the central government has earmarked substantial funds for transforming remote settlements into wellconnected economically sustainable communities The scheme aims to reverse outmigration by making border villages attractive for residents to stay invest and grow rootsâ it addedAccording to the report Indiaâs villagefirst strategy prioritises building allweather road connectivity electrification mobile and internet access healthcare facilities and livelihood opportunitiesâThese upgrades not only provide essential services but also help bridge the urbanrural divide that has historically affected frontier regions This initiative substantially improved the quality of life replacing reliance on firewood and kerosene with sustainable power sources and cleaner cooking energyâ it notedThe report stressed that a distinctive element of Indiaâs model is community ownership with authorities involving local gram panchayats community leaders and residents in planning and implementing village action plans rather than imposing topdown solutionsâThis participatory approach has boosted morale and instilled a sense of ownership in development outcomes Activities ranging from sustainable tourism promotion to âone village one productâ initiatives support local entrepreneurship and help preserve cultural heritage These efforts dovetail with traditional life enhancing livelihoods and fostering resilience in some of Indiaâs most strategically sensitive zonesâ it mentionedWith investment flowing into infrastructure and employment ecosystems the report said villages are experiencing stability in population while improved access to mobile connectivity and eservices offers economic opportunities that discourage relocation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-village-first-strategy-redefines-security-and-development-report-656594.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:35:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-surviving-on-imf-reviews-but-economy-remains-vulnerable-as-ever-report-656596.html New Delhi Jan 1 Pakistan is witnessing the institutionalisation of a survivalist economy where every policy choice is dictated by the need to pass the next International Monetary Fund IMF review regardless of whether that policy erodes the tax base for the next decade while the economy remains vulnerable as ever headed nowhere except most likely into another IMF programme as per a news report The report in Business Recorder by Shahid Sattar reveals that Pakistan suffers from a chronic twin deficit a fiscal gap spending more than it collects and a balance of payments crisis consuming more foreign exchange than it earnsFor fifty years our imports have hovered at double the rate of our exports as a percentage of GDP Simply Pakistan is a country that has failed to produce it addedThe report argued that the fundamental flaw in the IMFâs approach is a dogmatic adherence to revenue extraction at the cost of value creationBy forcing the government to meet rigid fiscal targets and through any means necessary at this point the Fund has encouraged policies that stifle the very exportled growth required to break the debt cycle it further statedThe historic economic model of state patronage was flawed and resulted in suboptimal allocation of resourcesBut there is a difference between weaning an addict off drugs and starving a healthy person The IMF programme appears unable to distinguish between withdrawing support and subsidies and actively destroying the ecosystem required for legitimate businesses to function the report further arguedOn paper the IMF deals with the Finance Minister and the Governor of the State Bank Technically all policies within the Letter of Intent are the governmentâs own ideasIn reality the programme reflects the behest of those holding the greatest political and economic leverage When policies fail the IMF claims the government designed them the government claims the IMF demanded them This ambiguity serves everyone but the country and its citizens the report lamentedUnless we reclaim our policymaking from the narrow revenuecentric confines of IMF programmes we are not just managing a crisis but rather our own decline it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-surviving-on-imf-reviews-but-economy-remains-vulnerable-as-ever-report-656596.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-body-flags-deep-instability-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-656597.html Islamabad Jan 1 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan HRCP has expressed its deep concerns over the security and law and order situation in the countryâs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province throughout 2025 The region remains alarmingly unstable witnessing frequent militant attacks Citing Islamabadbased Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies the HRCP in its latest report titled Caught in the Crossfire Civilians Security and the Crisis of Justice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Merged Districts stated that at least 82 militant attacks had occurred nationwide in July 2025 alone with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including its former tribal districts accounting for nearly two thirds of this numberAdditionally 45 militant attacks were recorded in the province in September 2025 killing 54 people and injuring 49Of these cumulative figures in September the provinces merged districts accounted for 20 militant attacks claiming 21 lives including six Pakistani security personnel three militants and 12 civilians and injuring sevenAccording to the HRCP Mian Iftikhar Hussain the President of the Awami National Party ANP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa described the security situation as significantly more precarious than generally perceived He stated that a range of militant organisations were operating not only in the merged districts but also in settled areas of the province adding that the terrorist outfit Daesh was reportedly active in the regionSimilarly the rights body said the provincial president of the Qaumi Watan Party QWP Sikandar Sherpao claimed that âapproximately 550 incidents of violence had occurred since January 2025 predominantly in the merged districtsâ Citing Sherpao the rights body stated that while actual militant actors were operating in the region they were now accompanied by copycat groups and hardened criminal networks compounding the lawandorder challengesThe QWP leader also identified the situation in Waziristan and the Bajaur region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as particularly grave stating that the influence of the terror group Daesh or Islamic State Khorasan Province was expanding to the extent that civil servants and police personnel felt compelled to go into hiding by late afternoonThe HRCP mission further highlighted that the continued practice of enforced disappearances remains a cause for concernâThe testimonies heard by the mission imply that persons accused of âantistateâ activities are frequently not produced before the courts in accordance with constitutional guarantees The mission observes that the reported political victimisation of rightsbased movements such as the PTM including arbitrary restrictions on membersâ freedom of movement and assembly and progressive parties such as the ANP is detrimental to democratic politicsâ the rights body statedThe HRCP also voiced alarm at reports of âcensorship intimidation and targeted attacks against journalists particularly those covering enforced disappearances and militant violenceâ in the province IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-body-flags-deep-instability-in-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-656597.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/over-115-million-foreign-tourists-visited-nepal-in-2025-656601.html Kathmandu Jan 1 Nepal received over 115 million foreign tourists in 2025 a slight rise compared to 2024 the Nepal Tourism Board NTB said on Thursday The Himalayan country welcomed 1158459 foreign tourists in 2025 compared to 1147548 in 2024 registering an increase of just one per cent according to the NTBDespite the marginal rise in foreign tourist arrivals the recovery failed to match preCovid levels Nepal had welcomed 1197191 foreign tourists in 2019 before the pandemic NTB data showsThe tourism sector also suffered a major setback due to the GenZ movement in early September during which several hotel properties were destroyed just as the industry was recovering from the Covid19 pandemicThe GenZ revolt left 77 people dead and caused damage to government and private properties worth over NPR 84 billion according to a government study committee reportForeignbranded hotels including the Hyatt Regency and Hilton were severely damaged during the violent protests The Hilton was burnt to the ground while the Hyatt remains closed for maintenance This prompted the World Bank to predict a sharp decline in foreign tourist arrivals in the following months However arrivals didnât fall as projected by the World BankIndia remained the largest source market with 292438 visitors Indian tourist arrivals in 2025 accounted for 252 percent of total foreign tourist arrivals according to the NTBThe United States ranked second with 112316 visitors followed by China with 95480The United Kingdom stood fourth sending 58684 tourists followed by Bangladesh in fifth place with 57545 visitorsAlthough India contributed the largest number of tourists in 2025 overall arrivals from the southern neighbour declined by 8 per cent according to the NTB Tourist arrivals from China also fell by 63 per centFollowing the GenZ protests in early September which damaged several hotel properties the World Bank reiterated its forecast of a sharp decline in foreign tourist arrivals As a result Nepal recorded an 183 per cent yearonyear decline in tourist arrivals in September However arrivals in October and November improved marginally on a yearonyear basis according to the NTBThe NTB also said that Nepal received foreign direct investment FDI commitments worth NPR 30263 million across 476 projects during the period during the first five months of the current fiscal year 202526 that began in midJuly 2025 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/over-115-million-foreign-tourists-visited-nepal-in-2025-656601.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-sindhi-leader-urges-un-to-act-on-enforced-disappearance-of-activists-656611.html Berlin Jan 1 Shafi Burfat Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz JSMM called on the United Nations and the international community to take immediate notice of all forcibly disappeared Sindhi political activists and hold Pakistanâs military and intelligence agencies accountable under international law The Sindhi leader accused the Pakistani military and intelligence agencies of operating with complete impunity and arbitrarily arresting Sindhi political activists engaged in peaceful political struggleHe said many have been subjected to inhuman torture prolonged illegal detention enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killing Hundreds of Sindhi activists he added forcibly disappeared remain in secret detention and torture facilities without any judicial warrant formal charges or legal processâPakistan has evolved into an unnatural authoritarian and militarised state where historic nations have been subjugated through the political misuse of religion and the dominance of a centralised unaccountable military establishment In Sindh this structure has resulted in systematic political repression economic exploitation and the suppression of national identityâ Burfat posted on XâWe the Sindhi nation categorically reject this system of repression and demand freedom from a state that criminalises secular and national political movements including Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz while simultaneously patronising religious extremism militant networks racism and feudal elitesâ he addedThe Sindhi leader formally informed the United Nations and the international community that numerous Sindhi political activists including Ijaz Gaho Sarvech Nohani Sohail Bhatti Pathan Khan Zuhrani and Sarvech Sargani among many others continue to be illegally detained in the custody of Pakistanâs intelligence agenciesHe highlighted that their families parents spouses children and siblings are left in complete uncertainty unaware whether their loved ones are alive or have been killedâThese arrests and disappearances constitute gross violations of moral values ethical standards the principles of human dignity international human rights and humanitarian lawâ Burfat statedThe Sindhi leader urged the global community to demand disclosure of the whereabouts of the victims of enforced disappearances and ensure their safe and unconditional releaseBurfat asserted that the pain of Sindhi people is deepened by the fact that powerful nations continue to support Pakistan politically militarily and diplomatically while prioritising âstrategic interests over human rights justice and the survival of oppressed nationsââThis complicity enables Pakistan to continue its crimes while enjoying protection and legitimacy on the global stage That a state accused of systematic enforced disappearances and political repression continues to be treated as a âpartnerâ is a moral failure of the international system This is not only a tragedy for Sindh but it is also a matter of profound shame for the global conscienceâ he noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-sindhi-leader-urges-un-to-act-on-enforced-disappearance-of-activists-656611.html Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-military-claims-about-20-900-attacks-in-middle-east-in-2025-656459.html Tel Aviv Jan 1 The Israeli military has reported carrying out about 20900 attacks across the Middle East in 2025 primarily targeting Gaza Iran Syria and Lebanon Israel continued multifront fighting throughout the year necessitating the mobilisation of additional troops The military called up about 306830 reservists including 54000 who had previously been exempt from service according to figures it released at the end of the yearIn Gaza where a ceasefire took effect on Oct 10 Israeli forces carried out about 19530 attacks the military saidAccording to Gazas health authorities Israeli assaults have killed at least 415 people and injured 1152 others since October 11 A total of 71269 people have been killed by Israeli fire since October 2023 reports Xinhua news agencyIn June Israel launched a 12day military campaign against Iran beginning on June 13 with both countries exchanging missile strikes marking a sharp escalation after years of shadow and proxy conflictThe military said it attacked about 1500 sites in Iran and killed 11 nuclear scientists and 30 senior officials including Hossein Salami chief commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Mohammad Bagheri chief of staff of the Iranian Armed ForcesThe Northern Command carried out about 950 attacks mainly in southern Lebanon where Israel says it targets Hezbollah sites despite a ceasefire and in Syria where Israeli forces entered Syrian territory at the peak of Mount Hermon in late 2024 followed by frequent air and ground strikesMeanwhile Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is an inevitable reality affirming that Palestinians are moving steadily toward freedom and independenceIn a statement carried by Palestinian news agency WAFA Abbas stressed the realisation of a fully sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital alongside the return of refugees in line with international resolutions and the Arab Peace InitiativeIsrael has however not commented on the statement yet IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-military-claims-about-20-900-attacks-in-middle-east-in-2025-656459.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-humanitarian-agencies-urge-israel-to-revoke-ban-on-aid-groups-656460.html United Nations Jan 1 Multiple United Nations UN humanitarian agencies and international organisations jointly issued a statement calling on Israel to revoke its ban on the operations of international aid organisations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank The statement issued on Wednesday local time said that international aid organisations play a central role in humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank providing nearly one billion US dollars in assistance annuallyIt noted that in Gaza with winter worsening families suffering high acute food insecurity continuing and the need for lifesaving aid remaining critical banning aid groups could undermine the fragile progress achieved during the ceasefire and have devastating consequences for vulnerable children women and menThe statement emphasised that humanitarian access is neither optional nor subject to conditions or political considerations and that it constitutes a legal obligation under international humanitarian law as well as a fundamental requirement for the protection of human rights reports Xinhua news agencySignatories to the statement include Tom Fletcher UN undersecretarygeneral for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator Qu Dongyu directorgeneral of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Amy E Pope directorgeneral of the International Organization for Migration Volker Turk UN high commissioner for human rights Alexander De Croo administrator of the UN Development Programme Catherine Russell executive director of the UN Childrens Fund Sima Bahous UN undersecretarygeneral and executive director of UN Women and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus directorgeneral of the World Health Organization among othersAccording to media reports Israel plans to ban dozens of international aid organisations from operating in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank starting January 1 2026 citing their failure to comply with Israels registration requirements IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-humanitarian-agencies-urge-israel-to-revoke-ban-on-aid-groups-656460.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-hails-troops-in-russia-for-cementing-invincible-alliance-with-moscow-656461.html Seoul Jan 1 North Korean leader Kim Jongun has told the countrys troops dispatched to support Russia in its war against Ukraine that their combat participation helps cement the invincible alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow state media reported on Thursday Kim delivered the message in a New Years letter addressed to North Korean soldiers stationed overseas dated Wednesday and released by the Korean Central News Agency KCNANorth Korea has sent more than 10000 troops and conventional weapons to support Russias war efforts with thousands believed to have been killed in action reports Yonhap news agency quoting KCNAExtending New Years greetings Kim said 2025 was shining brightly thanks to the imperishable honour the troops safeguarded with their blood and livesAll of you have safeguarded heroically the dignity and honour of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea DPRK Kim said lauding them as the greatest strength pride and a strong pillar of the countryKim said he hopes to reunite with the soldiers as early as possible adding that he has no greater hope than seeing all of them return home safely and urging them to pay special attention to their safetyThanks to your selfsacrificing and devoted struggle the militant fraternity and friendship and invincible alliance between our country and Russia grow firmer he also notedThe leader told the forces Behind you are Pyongyang and Moscow urging them to be brave for the sake of the Russian people and the undying fame of North KoreaThe KCNA separately reported on Kims meeting with families of overseas soldiers on the sidelines of a New Years celebration held in Pyongyang the previous dayKim said he thinks much more of the commanding officers and combatants of the overseas operations units at the turn of the year proposing to wish for the beloved people to return home safe after discharging their mission the KCNA said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-hails-troops-in-russia-for-cementing-invincible-alliance-with-moscow-656461.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/in-a-first-for-new-york-zohran-mamdani-to-be-sworn-in-as-mayor-on-quran-656465.html New York Jan 1 Incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani will take his oath of office on a centuriesold Quran marking the first time a mayor of New York City will be sworn in using Islams holy text according to local media reports The move comes against the backdrop of a series of historic moments as Mamdani prepares to assume officeWhen the 34yearold Democrat formally becomes mayor shortly after midnight he will be the first Muslim the first South Asian and the first Africanborn individual to hold the citys top executive postMamdanis team has planned two swearingin ceremonies following a longstanding New York tradition under which a new Mayors term officially begins the moment the New Year starts the New York Times reportedThe first oathtaking ceremony will be held just after midnight in a private setting attended by close family members at the former City Hall subway station in ManhattanThe historic station one of the original stops on New York Citys earliest underground transit line has been closed since 1945 and is rarely opened to the publicOutgoing Mayor Eric Adams and former mayor Bill de Blasio had also followed similar dualinauguration traditions with an initial oath taken shortly after midnight followed by a larger public ceremony later in the dayNew York Attorney General Letitia James who is a political supporter of Mamdani and a notable opponent of US President Donald Trump will administer the midnight swearingin ceremonyMamdanis office said the decision to hold the ceremony at the longshuttered subway station reflects his commitment to the working people who keep our city running every dayMamdani has described the site as symbolic of a time when New York invested heavily in public infrastructure to improve everyday life an ambition he has said his administration intends to reviveLater on Thursday afternoon Mamdani will take the oath of office again during a public ceremony on the steps of City Hall That event will be administered by Senator Bernie Sanders one of Mamdanis political inspirations and is scheduled to begin at 1 pm local timeOpening remarks at the public ceremony will be delivered by Representative Alexandria OcasioCortez a close ally of the mayorelect IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/in-a-first-for-new-york-zohran-mamdani-to-be-sworn-in-as-mayor-on-quran-656465.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:31:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-starts-2026-with-shrunken-budget-of-345-billion-19-per-cent-job-cuts-656466.html United Nations Jan 1 Facing a severe cash crunch the world organisation starts 2026 with a shrunken budget of 345 billion and scheduled 19 per cent job cuts The General Assembly has adopted a budget that broadly reflects SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres proposal but is higher than the 3238 billion he had asked forThis years budget is about 270 million or 725 per cent lower than 2025s 372 billionThis budget covers only the main UN operations and the budgets for the peacekeeping operations and other UN outfits like UNESCO the World Health Organisation are separateIndias share of the regular budget is 1016 per cent based on an assessment calculated using a complex formula based on the gross national income population and other factorsSpeaking earlier to the Assemblys Fifth Committee which deals with the budget Assistant SecretaryGeneral Chandramouli Ramanathan said that as part of the belttightening 2900 positions will be abolished as of Friday and about 1000 employees had agreed to leaveAbout the budget process that required arduous negotiations among 193 member countries Ramanathan the UNs top financial official said That is something remarkable that you should not underestimateAccording to the UN the arrears on December 1 were 1586 billion 709 million in dues for 2024 and 877 million for 2025Because of this Ramanathan appealed to member countries to send in their 2026 dues as quickly as possibleBefore the Assembly adopted the budget unanimously a Russian amendment relating to provisions for investigations into human rights violations in Syria and another from Cuba on the SecretaryGenerals adviser on the right or duty of nations to protect citizens against serious atrocities were defeatedIndia abstained on both amendmentsThe United States is the top contributor to the UN assessed for 22 per cent of the budget followed by China responsible for 20 per centThe US under President Donald Trump a vehement critic of the UN has held back its contribution to the UN for 2025 even though it has been approved by Congress creating a serious cash crunchTrump has proposed cutting US contributions to next years regular budget by 610 million and this could affect the viability of the budget that has been adoptedArul Louis can be contacted at arulliansin IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-starts-2026-with-shrunken-budget-of-345-billion-19-per-cent-job-cuts-656466.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/life-threatening-bushfire-in-australia-prompts-evacuation-order-656477.html Sydney Jan 1 Authorities on Thursday morning issued an emergency warning for a lifethreatening bushfire burning near the Perth Airport in Western Australia WA A warning issued shortly before 6 am local time by the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services DFES said that residents in the Kalamunda region 15 km east of central Perth and 5 km from the citys international airport should leave immediatelyThe DFES said that an outofcontrol bushfire moving in a northerly direction posed a threat to lives and homes and that residents need to act immediately to surviveIt said that people in the affected area should leave in a westerly direction if it is safe to do so reports Xinhua news agencyDo not wait and see leaving at the last minute could put your life in danger the warning saidAnyone who tries to leave and becomes stuck in their car has been advised to cover themselves with a woollen blanket and get onto the floor of the vehicle in case intense heat causes the windows to breakThe DFES said that people who are unable to leave the area should prepare to shelter in their home in a room with running water and a clear exitYou must shelter before the fire arrives as the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you it saidKalamunda and the neighbouring affected suburbs of Maida Vale and Forrestfield had a combined population of around 25000 people at the time of the 2021 national censusThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that power lines are down in the warning area and several roads have been closed but that Perth Airport has not been affected by the fire IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/life-threatening-bushfire-in-australia-prompts-evacuation-order-656477.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rajnath-singh-visits-bangladesh-hc-offers-condolences-over-khaleda-zias-demise-656496.html New Delhi Jan 1 IANS Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday visited the High Commission of Bangladesh in New Delhi to express condolences over the death of Bangladesh National Party BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda ZianbspnbspSigning the condolence book Singh conveyed deep sorrow and extended his thoughts to Khaleda Zias family and the people of BangladeshnbspWent to the High Commission of Bangladesh in New Delhi Signed the Condolence Book expressing our profound sorrow at the passing of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia Our thoughts are with her family and the people of Bangladesh the Defence Minister posted on XFollowing Singhs visit Bangladeshs High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah took to X stating Honoured to welcome HE Rajnath Singh Hon Indian Defence Minister at Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi as he conveyed condolences of India and paid homage to former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson late Khaleda Zia in DelhinbspEarlier on Wednesday External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar visited Dhaka to represent India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh He conveyed the Indian governments condolences to the BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman on the passing of his mother and former Bangladesh PMIn a post on X the EAM said that upon arrival in Dhaka he met with Tarique Rahman and handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra ModinbspConveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of India Expressed confidence that Begum Khaleda Zias vision and values will guide the development of our partnership he addednbspEAM Jaishankar acknowledged Zias contribution to democracy and expressed optimism about strengthening IndiaBangladesh ties in the wake of a democratic transition following the upcoming electionsSharing photos of EAMs meeting with Tarique Rahman Hamidullah posted on X stating HE Dr S Jaishankar Hon External Affairs Minister in Dhaka conveys condolences of the people and Govt of India as Bangladesh mourns passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia recognised her contribution to democracy and expressed optimism to strengthen India Bangladesh ties following democratic transition in Bangladesh thru the upcoming election Feb 2026nbspKhaleda Zia a threetime Prime Minister and longtime chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party died early Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness She was 80nbspShe was laid to rest with full State honours on Wednesday afternoon beside her husband countrys former President Ziaur Rahman at ShereBangla Nagar in Dhaka according to local media reports https://dailyworld.in/international/rajnath-singh-visits-bangladesh-hc-offers-condolences-over-khaleda-zias-demise-656496.html Thu, 01 Jan 2026 17:05:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-police-open-probe-into-ruling-party-lawmaker-over-alleged-bribe-taking-656386.html Seoul Dec 31 Police have begun investigating Rep Kang Sunwoo of the ruling Democratic Party DP over allegations of receiving 100 million won US69400 from a Seoul city councilor officials said Wednesday The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agencys public crime investigation team has been assigned to the case after opposition lawmakers filed a complaint against Kang and the council member on bribery charges Yonhap news agency reportedKang has been accused of receiving the money via an aide during the regional elections in 2022The case recently received attention after Kang was found to have discussed the matter with Rep Kim Byungkee of the same party who is currently embroiled in allegations of misconductRecently allegations emerged that Rep Kang discussed with Rep Kim Byungkee then secretary of the nomination management committee an issue in which a local aide received and kept 100 million Korean won from Council member Kim ahead of the eighth nationwide simultaneous local elections in April 2022The following day after their conversation the Democratic Party of Koreaâs Seoul City Party announced that Council member Kim would be the sole nominee for the Seoul City Council member position in Gangseo District SeoulThis led to controversy that despite knowing the candidate had provided money measures to exclude him from the nomination were not takenSeparately police plan to question an activist later in the day who alleged that Rep Kim met Park Daejun then CEO of Coupang Corp in September to influence personnel decisions surrounding his former aide who was hired by the companyThe lawmaker resigned from the ruling partys floor leadership Tuesday amid mounting allegations of misconduct which included receiving preferential treatment and abusing his power IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-police-open-probe-into-ruling-party-lawmaker-over-alleged-bribe-taking-656386.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/293-killed-in-mob-attacks-in-bangladesh-since-yunus-took-over-rights-group-656404.html Dhaka Dec 31 A leading human rights organisation in Bangladesh highlighted widespread rights abuses across the country including mob violence extrajudicial killings deaths in custody minority persecution killings in political violence and suppression of press freedom local media reported on WednesdaynbspIn its latest report Dhakabased Ain O Salish Kendra ASK revealed that mob terrorism has increased at an alarming rate throughout 2025nbspAs per the findings mob violence claimed 197 lives from January to December in comparison to 128 deaths last yearSince the Muhammad Yunusled interim government assumed office in 2024 the report said at least 293 people have been killed in mob violencenbspPeople have been beaten and killed without any evidence investigation or legal process by creating suspicion and rumours In the name of the Tawheed Janata mobs have been illegally formed to vandalise art and cultural centres attack the Baul community and even burn bodies from graves There have been incidents of harassment of people of opposing views including freedom fighters Bangladeshi Bengali daily Prothom Alo quoted the rights body as sayingAccording to the statement in many of these incidents the law enforcement agencies failed to act and efforts to bring perpetrators to justice were largely absentnbspThe report said that at least 107 people died in various prisons across the country in 2025 including 69 inmates and 38 prisoners Among the prisons across the country Dhaka Central Jail recorded the highest number of deaths with 38 followed by Gazipur with 7 while the remaining fatalities occurred in other prisons across the countryAdditionally at least 38 people were killed in extrajudicial killings in 2025 as reported by the monitoring of the Information Protection Unit of ASKnbspThese deaths the rights body said occurred in the custody of law enforcement agencies under torture in the name of alleged shootouts or gunfights reflecting an ongoing human rights crisisnbspASK revealed that between January and December 2025 Bangladesh witnessed at least 401 incidents of political violence claiming 102 lives and injuring 4744 people The report further stated that at least 381 journalists faced torture and harassment during the same period with 23 journalists targeted by law enforcement agencies and 20 receiving death threatsHighlighting the atrocities on minorities across Bangladesh especially Hindus ASK documented several violent incidents including attacks intimidation looting arson and vandalism of idols between January and December 2025nbspThis year alone the report said there were at least 42 attacks targeting Hindus resulting in the damage of 33 houses 36 houses set on fire attacks on four temples vandalism of 64 idols and nine landgrabbing incidentsnbspBangladesh has been gripped by escalating human rights abuses and persistent attacks on minorities particularly the Hindu community under the Muhammad Yunusled interim government IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/293-killed-in-mob-attacks-in-bangladesh-since-yunus-took-over-rights-group-656404.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:54:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-to-prioritise-confirming-fate-of-separated-families-kin-in-north-korea-656407.html Seoul Dec 31 The unification ministry said Wednesday it will prioritize confirming the fate of separated families relatives in North Korea if strained interKorean relations begin to improve Under the 20262028 plan for supporting families separated by the 195053 Korean War the ministry said it will make efforts to resume exchanges between such divided families at the government level and facilitate civilianlevel exchanges between them Yonhap news agency reportedWhen there is progress over interKorean relations the government will prioritize confirming the fate of the families relatives in North Korea the ministry saidSince the first interKorean summit in 2000 the two Koreas have held 21 rounds of separated family reunions Since the last event in August 2018 statearranged family events have been suspended amid frosty interKorean tiesNorth Korea dismantled a reunion facility for separated families inside its Mount Kumgang tourist area after North Korean leader Kim Jongun ordered officials in 2019 to tear down all unpleasantlooking facilities built by South Korea at the mountain resortThe ministry said it will consider measures to replace the family reunions location and seek reciprocal visits to Seoul and Pyongyang by separated families in the two KoreasThe issue of separated families has taken on urgency as more elderly people have died without having a chance to meet their kin in the North due to Pyongyangs reluctance to hold family reunion eventsThe number of surviving separated family members registered with the government came to 34658 as of the end of November Of them 32 per cent are aged 90 and older IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-to-prioritise-confirming-fate-of-separated-families-kin-in-north-korea-656407.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/iskp-emerges-as-pakistans-new-deniable-proxy-against-india-656416.html New Delhi Dec 31 The alliance that the ISI stitched between the Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP and the LashkareTaiba could turn out to be a security headache for India Intelligence agencies have warned The primary aim of the ISI was to have these two groups fight together against the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP and Balochistan Nationalist Army BLA The Pakistan army has been facing severe losses at the hands of these two outfits The alliance with the ISKP was also formed in the wake of the rising tensions with the Afghan Taliban While the ISKP is still in the process of setting up the squads to target Baloch nationals Indian Intelligence agencies have warned of a spillover which could affect the security situation in Jammu and KashmirAn Intelligence Bureau official said that plans are already afoot to expand the footprint of the ISKP into India with the main focus being Jammu and Kashmir This is a dangerous game that Pakistan is playing as the final goal is to infiltrate India While the ISKP has immense capabilities for carrying out largescale strikes the benefit Pakistan would gain is the deniability factor The ISKP is not a Pakistanbased group It is headquartered in Afghanistan and hence if an attack is carried out in India the trail would not lead back to Islamabad officials sayWhen the ISKP was formed the main intention was to control Afghanistan and then gradually infiltrate into India At that time the outfit was at loggerheads with Pakistan as it considered the nation to be unIslamic and a slave of the Western powers Now the two appear to have ironed out their differences as they share a common enemy in the Afghan Taliban The ISI would help the ISKP with the logistics as well as the finances The ISI would also create channels whereby the ISKP can receive the arms and ammunition that it requiresOfficials say that the ISI got the LashkareTaiba and ISKP together only to fight against the TTP and BLA The Kashmir battle would be handled alone by the ISKP as it would offer Pakistan the deniability factor This is important for Pakistan since it is being closely watched by international organisations such as the Financial Action Task Force FATFThe ISKP also made its Kashmir plans clear in an article that was published in its propaganda magazine Yalgaar The outfit speaks extensively about its expansion plan into India and this is a disturbing trend officials sayIntelligence Bureau officials say that the ISKP would be backed by Pakistans deep state It would also coordinate and encourage attacks to be carried out by the ISKP The expansion attempts are just around the corner another official saidFor now the focus would be entirely on Balochistan as the Pakistan army wants the BLA and TTP out of its way Bringing in the ISKP and setting aside differences of the past is a clear sign that the Pakistan army is unable to fight against groups such as the TTP and BLAThe ISKP which is in alliance with the LashkareTaiba in Balochistan is currently setting up death squads The idea is to target the Baloch nationals and also those groups that defy Pakistan One could expect increased violence in the region as the fights between these groups would be bloody in natureWhen leaders of the two outfits met recently they formalised their alliance by gifting each other pistols They even pledged to eliminate everyone who is opposed to Pakistan and that includes India as well While Indian agencies are closely watching the developments in Balochistan they are also keeping a very close eye on the ambitious expansion plans by the ISKP IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/iskp-emerges-as-pakistans-new-deniable-proxy-against-india-656416.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-pm-encourages-soldiers-at-front-line-army-unit-656418.html Seoul Dec 31 South Korean Prime Minister Kim Minseok visited a frontline Army unit near the interKorean border on Wednesday to inspect defence readiness and encourage troops officials said Kim paid a visit to the Armys 9th Infantry Division of Baekma White Horse in Paju Gyeonggi Province just north of Seoul according to his officeKim expressed gratitude for service members protecting the country saying that peoples daily lives can continue because of their efforts Yonhap News Agency reportedWe the government will work harder to set this country on a firmer footing and encourage soldiers to nurture a strong sense of duty to the nation and to dream of your future work in society after your service Kim saidKim also climbed a guard post to observe North Korea and walked along the barbed wire fence along the border with the North to review military readiness posture his office addedEarlier in October South Koreas Defence Minister Ahn Gyuback underscored the importance of incorporating cuttingedge technologies such as artificial intelligence AI Wednesday to bolster surveillance operations in border areas the defence ministry saidAhn made the call as he visited an observation post under the Armys 22nd Division in the eastern frontline area earlier in the day and inspected its AIbased surveillance system according to the ministryEstablishing an AIbased surveillance operation system is the key to opening the door to building a smart and strong military Ahn was quoted as sayingThe minister said using such systems can help the military restructure its troop resources to focus on operating other advanced weapons systems and increasing realistic combat training programsThe military has been seeking to embrace more hightech systems to sharpen its capabilities for future warfare and cope with declining troop resourcesAhn meanwhile vowed to improve the working environment for soldiers calling the task a top defence priority that cannot be put off further IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-pm-encourages-soldiers-at-front-line-army-unit-656418.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/over-2-000-afghan-refugees-deported-from-iran-pakistan-in-single-day-656419.html Kabul Dec 31 Over 2000 Afghan refugees have been repatriated from Pakistan and Iran in a single day a Taliban official said on Wednesday Sharing the High Commission for Addressing Migrants Issues report on X Taliban deputy spokesperson Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 450 families comprising 2254 people returned to Afghanistan on Tuesday Pajhwok Afghan News reportedHe said that Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar the Bahramcha crossing in Helmand the Torkham crossing in Nangarhar the Islam Qala crossing in Herat and PuliAbresham in NimrozHe noted that 199 returning families comprising 1018 people were taken to their respective home areas while 417 families were provided humanitarian assistanceMullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated that telecommunication firms provided 390 SIM cards to returning refugeesAs many as 2827 Afghan migrants were deported from Iran and PakistanEarlier in November several Afghan refugees in Pakistan said that they had been overwhelmed by continuous pressure from the countrys police which apart from conducting searches was arresting people and exploiting their vulnerable situation as a source of incomeA report in an Afghan newspaper 8 AM Media also known as HashteSubh Daily highlighted that Afghan refugees in Pakistan do not have basic human rights and live in constant fear and anxietyHuman rights groups and refugeesupport groups have remained silent regarding the uncertainty and the governments failure to fulfil its commitment to human rights and the protection of refugeesOver the past few months as tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan continue Islamabad has increased its pressure on Afghan refugees with the Pakistani forces conducting widespread harassment of migrants each day in various areas including IslamabadApart from official operations involving the arrest of Afghan refugees without visas people in plain clothes extort money from migrants in residential areas Afghan people have said that they live in inhumane conditions filled with fear and anxiety and their refugee rights are not respectedThe situation is extremely distressing I wish the official operations team would simply arrest and take people away This method is not right the police know no one will report them so they come individually for searches Several men in plain clothes lie in wait in the neighbourhood grab someone and take them away It is unclear whether they are police thieves or cooperating with the police Now even if an ordinary person commits theft or kidnapping under the name of the police people assume he is a police officer the report quoted an Afghan national as sayingThese individuals detain migrants in their personal vehicles some are released on the spot after paying money while others are taken to police posts They are probably police themselves or collaborating with the police The level of theft and robbery is extremely high and no institution hears the peoples voices The situation is deeply painful a country that has no defender and whose citizens have no protection or credibility anywhere in the world the refugee added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/over-2-000-afghan-refugees-deported-from-iran-pakistan-in-single-day-656419.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-arrives-in-dhaka-for-khaleda-zias-funeral-hands-over-pm-modis-letter-to-her-son-656436.html Dhaka Dec 31 External Affairs Minister EAM S Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday and conveyed the Indian governments condolences to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on the passing of his mother and former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia In a post on X the EAM said that upon arrival in Dhaka he met with Tarique Rahman and handed over to him a personal letter from Prime Minister Narendra ModinbspConveyed deepest condolences on behalf of the government and people of India Expressed confidence that Begum Khaleda Zias vision and values will guide the development of our partnership he addednbspEAM Jaishankar acknowledged Zias contribution to democracy and expressed optimism about strengthening IndiaBangladesh ties in the wake of a democratic transition following the upcoming electionsSharing photos of EAMs meeting with Tarique Rahman Bangladeshs High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah posted on X stating HE Dr S Jaishankar Hon External Affairs Minister in Dhaka conveys condolences of the people and Govt of India as Bangladesh mourns passing of former Bangladesh Prime Minister BegumKhaledaZia recognised her contribution to democracy and expressed optimism to strengthen India Bangladesh ties following democratic transition in Bangladesh thru the upcoming election Feb 2026 EAM Jaishankar is in Dhaka to represent India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia the first woman Prime Minister of BangladeshEarlier on Tuesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Bangladeshs former PM and the BNP chairperson remembering her as a historic leader whose contributions to Bangladesh and relations with India will always be rememberednbspMeanwhile thousands of people from across the country have been arriving in the capitals Manik Mia Avenue at Parliament Complex since early morning to pay their final respectsnbspAccording to the local media reports 27 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh BGB have been deployed at strategic points in Dhaka to maintain tight securitynbspZia a threetime Prime Minister and longtime chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP died early Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness She was 80Zia had been admitted to the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on November 23 after developing serious complications involving her heart and lungsnbspMedia reports said she was also battling pneumonia during her final days She remained under close medical observation for 36 days with doctors describing her condition as fragilenbspZia will be laid to rest beside her husband former president Ziaur Rahman at ShereBangla Nagar in Dhaka according to local media reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/eam-jaishankar-arrives-in-dhaka-for-khaleda-zias-funeral-hands-over-pm-modis-letter-to-her-son-656436.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/former-bangladesh-pm-khaleda-zia-laid-to-rest-with-full-state-honours-656455.html Dhaka Dec 31 IANS Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia was laid to rest with full State honours on Wednesday following her funeral prayers at the South Plaza of Parliament complex in Dhaka local media reportednbspShe was buried beside her husband and former president Ziaur Rahman at ShereBangla Nagar in the capital on Wednesday afternoonnbspThe funeral ceremony was attended by Bangladeshs Chief Advisor of the interim government Muhammad Yunus BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir senior national leaders from various political parties and foreign ministers representatives and diplomats from several countries Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reportedEarlier in the day BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman urged people to offer prayers for his mother Khaleda Zia ahead of her funeral at Manik Mia Avenue in DhakanbspAddressing a gathering near the Parliament complex ahead of the janaza Rahman said anyone with a financial claim against Khaleda Zia during her lifetime should contact him assuring that all such dues would be clearednbspIf anyone was hurt by her words or actions I seek forgiveness on her behalf he said while appealing to the gathering to pray for his mother Bangladeshi Daily Dhaka Tribune reportednbspThousands of mourners from across the country had also gathered around the National Parliament complex in the capital on Wednesday afternoon as the funeral prayers of the BNP Chairperson were held at the South PlazaThe hearse carrying Khaleda Zias body arrived at Manik Mia Avenue from her son Tarique Rahmans residence in Gulshan where family members party leaders and activists had earlier paid their last respectsnbspAccording to the local media reports 27 platoons of the Border Guard Bangladesh BGB were deployed at strategic points in Dhaka to maintain tight securitynbspKhaleda Zia a threetime Prime Minister and longtime chairperson of the BNP died early Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness She was 80She had been admitted to the private hospital in Dhaka on November 23 after developing serious complications related to her heart and lungs and remained under close medical supervision before passing away on TuesdaynbspShe is survived by her elder son BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman his wife Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman https://dailyworld.in/international/former-bangladesh-pm-khaleda-zia-laid-to-rest-with-full-state-honours-656455.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/seven-killed-two-injured-in-road-accident-in-afghanistans-badakhshan-656293.html Kabul Dec 30 Seven commuters were killed and two others sustained injuries due to a road accident that occurred in northern Afghanistans Badakhshan province on Tuesday provincial police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar said The deadly collision took place in the Maimay district of the mountainous Darwaz region early morning the official said without providing more details Xinhua News Agency reportedLast week at least five people were killed and 44 others injured after a bus overturned in the Salang area of Afghanistans Baghlan provinceIn a statement shared on X Afghanistans Ministry of Public Works MoPW spokesperson Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas said on Sunday that the incident happened in the Shawal area north of Salang at around 2 am on Saturday local time local media outlet Pajhwok Afghan News reportedHaqshenas said that a passenger bus veered off the road and overturned due to reckless driving claiming the lives of five people and injuring 44 others He added that the injured were taken to the Khanjan district health centre for treatmentThe ministry asked people travelling on the route to follow the instructions given by officials and observe traffic rules Authorities said that personnel were carrying out snowclearing operations at several points on the Salang highwayOn December 15 local police said at least three people were killed and 16 others injured in two separate traffic accidents in Afghanistan in the past 24 hoursA headon collision between two vehicles on the KabulKandahar highway in eastern Ghazni province claimed the lives of two people and injured two women In the northern Jawzjan province separate traffic incidents caused the death of one person and injured 14 othersAuthorities have attributed the accidents mainly to reckless driving highlighting the dangers caused by overcrowded and poorly maintained roads in Afghanistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/seven-killed-two-injured-in-road-accident-in-afghanistans-badakhshan-656293.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/asean-strengthens-regional-stability-malaysian-pm-656301.html Kuala Lumpur Dec 30 Regional stability was strengthened through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN despite the challenges faced by the grouping in 2025 according to Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim The collective wisdom and sincerity of the grouping and its partners ensured that the ASEAN platform continues to serve to unite views and bridge gaps Anwar said in a statement on MondayMalaysia assumed the responsibility of the ASEAN Chairmanship 2025 at a time when the world is facing anxiety and uncertainty In that atmosphere ASEAN has chosen to continue to adhere to the spirit of togetherness dialogue and mutual respect he said Xinhua News Agency reportedMalaysia concluded its ASEAN chairmanship by handing over the responsibility to the Philippines for the 2026 editionThis was the fifth time Malaysia served as ASEAN chair since the establishment of the regional bloc in 1967On December 22 the Foreign Ministers of Association of SouthEast Asian Nations ASEAN member countries who held a special meeting in Malaysias Kuala Lumpur on Monday to address the current situation between Cambodia and Thailand have urged both countries to exercise restraint and take immediate steps for the cessation of all forms of hostilitiesThe meeting reaffirmed the commitment to ASEAN unity and solidarity as well as ASEAN Centrality in ensuring regional peace security stability and prosperity in accordance with the ASEAN Charter The participants of the meeting voiced serious concerns on the continued tensions and hostilities which have caused significant casualties damage to civilian infrastructure and displacement of people on both sides of the border according to the statement released by the ASEAN ChairThe members urged Thailand and Cambodia to ensure that civilians residing in the affected border areas are able to return without obstruction and in safety and dignity to their homes and normal livelihoods as they existed prior to the outbreak of hostilitiesThe meeting took place as the CambodiaThailand border conflict has reignited since December 7 with both sides accusing each other of initiating the attackThe statement said The Meeting urged Cambodia and Thailand to exercise maximum restraint and take immediate steps towards the cessation of all forms of hostilities The Meeting called on both countries to restore mutual trust and confidence and to return to dialogue including through bilateral mechanisms as well as making use of the good offices of the ASEAN Chair revive cooperation on humanitarian demining and implement military deescalation along their shared border under the observation of the AOT and to uphold the principles of international law peaceful coexistence and multilateral cooperation in the pursuit of a peaceful and durable resolution to the situationDuring the meeting Malaysia briefed the participants of the meeting on the efforts made by Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim as ASEAN Chair to encourage both nations to cease hostilities Cambodia and Thailand shared their respective positions during the meeting IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/asean-strengthens-regional-stability-malaysian-pm-656301.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-envoy-to-india-meets-interim-govt-advisors-in-dhaka-656304.html Dhaka Dec 30 M Riaz Hamidullah Bangladesh High Commissioner to India met with the interim governments Foreign Affairs Advisor Md Touhid Hossain and National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman after the envoy was urgently summoned back to Dhaka local media reported The meeting was held in the Foreign Advisors office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in DhakaSpeaking to journalists following the meeting National Security Advisor Khalilur Rahman said We call the high commissioner from time to time We discussed various issuesMeanwhile the Foreign Affairs Advisor refused to comment on the meeting as he departed the ministry leading Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune reportedHamidullah arrived in Dhaka on Monday night after he was summoned by Bangladeshs Ministry of Foreign Affairs amid growing strain in bilateral tiesCiting diplomatic sources Dhaka Tribune reported that the High Commissioner was called back to provide a detailed assessment of the current situation in India and to discuss recent developments in bilateral ties adding that the national security and foreign affairs advisors also discussed Indiarelated issues on MondayThe tensions have been running high between the two countries following escalating attacks on Hindu minorities and the recent targeting of Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh under the Muhammad Yunusled interim governmentLast week India voiced grave concern over the persistent incidents of violence targeting religious minorities including Hindus Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh and asserted that it is keeping a close watch on the ongoing developments in its neighbourhoodIndia is closely monitoring developments and has expressed grave concern over the continued hostility of minorities including Hindus Christians and Buddhists We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaswal said during a news briefing in New Delhi recentlyMore than 2900 incidents of violence against minorities including cases of killings arson and land grabs have been documented by sources during the tenure of the interim government These incidents cannot be brushed aside as mere media exaggerations or dismissed as political violence he addedSlamming the unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh India also rejected the false antiIndia narrative being projected in Bangladesh while reiterating that maintaining law and order and ensuring security is the responsibility of the Yunusled interim governmentWe have rejected the false narrative that is being projected in Bangladesh Maintaining law and order and security is the responsibility of the Bangladesh interim government To portray a narrative where things are in some other direction is completely false and we reject that said JaiswalEarlier on December 17 the MEA summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Hamidullah to convey New Delhis strong concerns over the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-envoy-to-india-meets-interim-govt-advisors-in-dhaka-656304.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ians-year-ender-2025-asia-to-africa-and-beyond-nations-struggle-to-navigate-deadly-conflicts-656331.html New Delhi Dec 30 Conflicts and geopolitical turbulence in 2025 stretched from Southeast Asia South Asia and the Middle East to parts of Europe and Africa with peace remaining largely elusive These conflicts resulted in global instability and sparked a severe humanitarian crisis amid a rapidly evolving geopolitical security landscape Notwithstanding the peace initiatives several regions remained engulfed in violence Southeast Asia was on boil as tensions between Cambodia and Thailand intensified beginning with a confrontation in May near the Emerald Triangle where Thailand Cambodia and Laos converge resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier In July the tensions heightened after both sides exchanged artillery fire and deployed heavy weapons at several locations along the border promoting largescale civilian evacuationsAlthough a ceasefire in July briefly eased tensions it collapsed in early December triggering renewed clashes On December 27 normalcy returned after a new peace deal was signed between Thai Defence Minister Natthapon Nakpanich and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Seiha at a border checkpoint in Thailands Chanthaburi ProvinceIn South Asia Pakistan and Afghanistan remain engaged in heavy fighting in recent months with Islamabad conducting multiple air raids inside Afghanistan Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of fostering TehreekiTaliban Pakistan TTP an allegation outrightly rejected by Kabul The Taliban has repeatedly criticised Pakistans attacks describing them as violations of Afghanistans sovereigntyAdditionally Pakistani authorities escalated repression on Afghan refugees with millions reportedly forcibly deported from Pakistan until the end of the year leading to widespread humanitarian crisis in relentless winter According to reports several Afghan refugees in Pakistan stated that they had been continuously harassed by Pakistani police which apart from conducting searches were arresting people and exploiting their vulnerable situationOn another front within Pakistan unrest in Balochistan province reached its peak against the backdrop of severe human rights abuses including extrajudicial killing enforced disappearances and torture of Baloch civilians at the hands of Pakistani security forcesAdditionally the clashes between Pakistani forces and rebel groups also escalated resulting in the death of several Pakistani soldiers People in the Balochistan region are currently fighting for their freedom from Pakistan Several global human rights groups have highlighted the repression by Pakistani armed forces in the province which includes brutal raids on the homes of Baloch leaders and civilians unlawful arrests enforced disappearances the kill and dump policy detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance and the filing of fabricated police casesIn recent months several international human rights organisations have also raised concerns over an alarming rise in cases of enforced disappearances by Pakistani security forces targetting women and young girlsThe South Asian region remained volatile as violence and human rights abuses continued unabated in Bangladesh since the Muhammad Yunusled interim government assumed power in August 2024 following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh HasinaThe year witnessed a massive surge in attacks across Bangladesh targetting minorities particularly the Hindu community In one such brutal incident on December 18 a 25yearold Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by a mob over false blasphemy accusations The mob killed Das hung his body from a tree before setting it on fire Within span of a week another Hindu youth 29yearold Amrit Mondal was also lynched by a mob in the Hossaindanga area of Kalimohar UnionSince the Bangladesh Election Commission announced that the countrys 13th national parliamentary election along with a referendum on the July Charter will be held on February 12 next year the country has been gripped by widespread violence Following the killing of the extremist leader Sharif Osman Hadi his supporters went on a rampage targetting minorities Indian diplomatic missions cultural institutions and media houses with impunityHaving remained conflicttorn for many years the situation worsened in the Middle Eastern region with the outbreak of a direct and armed IsraelIran confrontation Israel on June 13 launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran a targetted military operation to negate the Iranian threat of nuclear weapons to Israels very survival As tensions escalated both sides targetted each others strategic locations Later the US joined the conflict and bombed three highly fortified nuclear sites in Iran which included Fordow Natanz and Esfahan nuclear facilities and warned Tehran of further precision strikes unless it ended its confrontation with Israel After 12 days of armed hostilities US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel bringing the conflict to an endIn Europe the unending conflict between Russia and Ukraine remained a major global flashpoint this year Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022 which triggered a fullscale war between the two countries entered its third year in 2025 Despite the diplomatic initiatives and peace proposals several phases of offensives and counteroffensives by both sides failed to produce a breakthrough Recent developments include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealing details of the latest USled 20point plan aimed at ending the conflict though Moscow is reportedly not satisfied with several of its provisionsParts of Africa too saw a surge in violence due to longstanding conflicts which have resulted in a severe humanitarian crisisIn civil wartorn Sudan armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces SAF and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces RSF have plunged the nation into a deeper crisis and severe suffering The struggle for supremacy between the two forces began in April 2023 and transformed into an armed conflict that has not only claimed thousands of innocent lives but also destroyed communities and uprooted millions from their homesIn the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo armed conflict between Rwandabacked M23 rebels and Congolese troops escalated in 2025 It resulted in the death of hundreds and the displacement of millions A peace deal between DR Congo and Rwanda was signed at the intervention of the United States but the bloodshed refuses to endThe surge in conflicts this year has not only challenged the current global order but has also kept instability looming As the world prepares to enter 2026 hope for peace remains in the midst of many unresolved conflicts IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ians-year-ender-2025-asia-to-africa-and-beyond-nations-struggle-to-navigate-deadly-conflicts-656331.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/concerns-mount-with-chinas-wargames-around-taiwan-after-us-pledges-huge-arms-sale-656348.html New Delhi December 30 With Chinaâs ongoing wargames around Taiwan following the United Statesâ approval of its largestever arms sale to Taipei worth 111 billion the future of this part of the Pacific has attracted global attention and concern Calling Washingtonâs arms sales to Taiwan as serving merely as a cash machine for American arms dealers Chinaâs statecontrolled Peopleâs Daily media on Tuesday warned that it will offer no protective shield for the island US interests centre around the country being the global leader in semiconductor manufacturing but more so due to its strategic location Taiwan lies at the crossroads of Asia â off the eastern coast of China with South Korea to its north Japan to the northeast and the Philippines to the south The location is important since many shipping routes pass this wayGiven that onethird of global shipping passes annually through the South China Sea this has major implications for the US economy the National Security Strategy NSS of the United States of America observed Hence deterring a conflict over Taiwan ideally by preserving military overmatch is a priority We will also maintain our longstanding declaratory policy on Taiwan meaning that the United States does not support any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait added the document made public this month The Peopleâs Daily commentary on Tuesday reiterated Beijingâs stand Mentioning Washingtonâs recently pledged package of arms sales to Taiwan it said that the islands leader Taiwan President Lai Chingte has planned to continue spending massively on purchases of US arms in the coming eight years These facts have exposed the collusion between the US and the DPP to harm the interests of the people in Taiwan Detailing the Chinese Peoples Liberation Armyâs PLA series of drills around Taiwan codenamed Justice Mission 2025 the article cited dispatching troops from ground air naval and rocket forces to deter âTaiwan independenceâ separatist forces and external interference It asserted This sends an unequivocal message that Beijing at all times stands ready to crush any secession plot aiming to split Taiwan from the motherland Each escalation in provocation will be met with stronger countermeasures The PLA is ready to fight at any moment and is certain to prevail if and when it does fight The global community is watching with concern as tensions in the region mount to their highest in years China sees Taiwan as a âcore national interestâ tied to its national rejuvenation while the US views Taipei as a key partner for democracy security and global trade Beijingâs Justice Mission 2025 launched on Monday marks its largest war games in recent times simulating a blockade of Taiwanâs ports and practising strikes and counterstrikes Taiwanâs military has also conducted readiness drills warning that China aims to seize the island by 2027 While these drills are likely to disrupt sea and air traffic they simultaneously raised fears of conflict across East Asia Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and sees reunification as essential to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by 2049 Taiwanâs independence is viewed as a direct challenge to Chinaâs sovereignty The island is located right at the heart of the âFirst Island Chainâ which is critical for both the worldâs largest economies access to the Pacific The First Island Chain is a string of Pacific archipelagos from the Kamchatka Peninsula through Japan the Ryukyu Islands Taiwan the northern Philippines and down to Borneo and the Malay Peninsula It serves as both a natural barrier and a platform for power projection anchoring Washingtonâs alliances and containing Beijingâs influence in the Western Pacific This was also mentioned in US NSS which added that it provides direct access to the Second Island Chain and splits Northeast and Southeast Asia into two distinct theaters Meanwhile regional players like Japan and the Philippines have also been drawn into the conflict with Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichiâs statement that any attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo while Manilaâs naval vessels have reportedly been spotted in these waters IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/concerns-mount-with-chinas-wargames-around-taiwan-after-us-pledges-huge-arms-sale-656348.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-led-strikes-net-25-isis-operatives-in-syria-656349.html Washington Dec 30 US and partner forces have killed or captured nearly 25 ISIS operatives in Syria following a largescale strike earlier this month according to US Central Command CENTCOM Conducted over 19 days beginning December 20 the USled operations carried out 11 missions across Syria resulting in at least seven ISIS members being killed while the remaining operatives were captured The missions also led to the elimination of four ISIS weapons caches a media release said TuesdayCENTCOM said the actions followed the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strike on December 19 when US and Jordanian forces struck more than 70 ISIS targets using over 100 precision munitionsThe strike was carried out by dozens of fighter aircraft attack helicopters and artillery systems and targetted ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites across central Syria the command saidâThese recent missions followed the launch of Operation Hawkeye Strikeâ CENTCOM said adding that the operation destroyed ISIS infrastructure and weapons sites across the regionâWe will not relentâ said Admiral Brad Cooper commander of CENTCOM âWe are steadfast in commitment to working with regional partners to root out the ISIS threat posed to US and regional securityâCENTCOM said the followon missions were designed to capitalize on the impact of the December 19 strike by targetting ISIS operatives and resources in the days immediately after the largescale attackThe command linked the Syria operations to broader security concerns noting that ISIS continues to pose a threat beyond the regionIn 2025 ISIS inspired at least 11 plots or attacks against targets in the United States CENTCOM said In response US and partner forces in Syria have conducted sustained operations over the past year aimed at dismantling the groupâs remaining networksAccording to CENTCOM operations conducted during the last 12 months have resulted in more than 300 terrorists being detained and over 20 killedâContinuing to hunt down terrorist operatives eliminate ISIS networks and work with partners to prevent an ISIS resurgence makes America the region and the world saferâ Cooper saidCENTCOM is headquartered in Tampa Florida and oversees US military operations across the Middle East and parts of South and Central Asia including Syria US forces have maintained a presence in Syria as part of the international campaign against ISIS which once controlled large areas of Syria and Iraq but now operates through dispersed cells after losing its territorial hold IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-led-strikes-net-25-isis-operatives-in-syria-656349.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-centrality-in-indo-pacific-a-strategic-prize-that-must-be-continuously-earned-report-656355.html New Delhi Dec 30 India is no longer a peripheral player in the affairs of IndoPacific but is becoming the fulcrum upon which regional stability and prosperity relies Indias centrality in the IndoPacific is a strategic prize that must be continuously earned through investment in maritime capabilities diplomatic engagement and economic integration a report has detailed Indias rise in the IndoPacific is driven by three factors the need to counterbalance Chinas assertive regional posture the opportunity to position itself as preferred alternative for democratic and likeminded countries and the economic need for integrating into supply chains and trade networks beyond its traditional South Asian neighbourhood a report in India Narrative mentionedIndia stands at a critical juncture in its geopolitical journey As the worldâs largest democracy and fifthlargest economy India is no longer a peripheral player in IndoPacific affairs but increasingly the fulcrum upon which regional stability and prosperity depend This transformation represents far more than a shift in diplomatic positioning â it reflects a fundamental realignment of global power dynamics where New Delhiâs agency and strategic vision have become indispensable to shaping the future of the worldâs most economically vibrant and strategically contested region it addedThe Quadrilateral Security Dialogue QUAD comprising India the United States Japan and Australia showcases New Delhis transformed role Despite being part of the Quad India continues to maintain strategic autonomy by not making military commitments while still benefiting from enhanced security cooperation technology transfer and coordinated initiatives that increase its regional capabilities without compromising its independent foreign policy trajectoryMaritime strategy is the backbone of Indias IndoPacific vision The Security and Growth for All in the Region SAGAR framework demonstrates Indiaâs commitment to freedom of navigation capacity building for partner nations and a rulesbased international order based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea the India Narrative report statedIndias most recent contribution to IndoPacific architecture was in December when Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi unveiled the IKIGAI Framework at the third IndoPacific Land Forces Summit hosted by Japan This framework showcases a watershed moment in Indias strategic thinking and developing a structured approach to military cooperation across the IndoPacific Indiaâs assuming the chairship of Indian Ocean Rim Association IORA in November demonstrates a watershed moment for showcasing continental leadershipIndiaâs centrality in the IndoPacific is not an inevitable outcome but a strategic prize that must be continuously earned through sustained investment in maritime capabilities diplomatic engagement and economic integration As India prepares to shape IORAâs trajectory deepen defense partnerships with European nations implement the IKIGAI Framework for military cooperation and navigate the recalibration of the Quad framework the region watches closelyA New Delhi that successfully balances strategic autonomy with effective partnerships security cooperation with economic engagement and ambition with restraint will define the character of IndoPacific governance for decades to come In this emerging order Indiaâs centrality reflects not merely New Delhiâs rise but the regionâs yearning for a great power that leads through consensus rather than coercionâa mission that recent institutional and military frameworks underscore as both urgent and achievable the report added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indias-centrality-in-indo-pacific-a-strategic-prize-that-must-be-continuously-earned-report-656355.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-launches-171-billion-usd-humanitarian-appeal-for-afghanistan-in-2026-656373.html United Nations Dec 31 The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA on Tuesday launched a 171 billion humanitarian needs and response plan for Afghanistan in 2026 which is expected to remain one of the worlds largest humanitarian crises next year In 2026 an estimated 219 million people will require humanitarian assistance a 4 per cent decrease from 2025 and 174 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity including 47 million in IPC Phase 4 Emergency according to OCHAThe office said that UN humanitarian partners will prioritize 175 million people for assistance in 2026 around 80 per cent of those in need through a coordinated response costing 171 billion dollars Assistance will focus on lifesaving and protective interventions including food shelter healthcare nutrition safe water hygiene and multipurpose cash support Xinhua news agency reportedWith needs remaining among the highest globally in a nonconflict setting humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan continue to be driven by deep structural vulnerability worsening food insecurity and recurrent shocks including climatedriven drought largescale returnee inflows frequent earthquakes and floods multiple disease outbreaks and severe protection risks especially for women and girls the office saidMass crossborder returns further compound needs more than 261 million Afghans returned from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 alone placing significant pressure on host communities basic services and livelihoods OCHA said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-launches-171-billion-usd-humanitarian-appeal-for-afghanistan-in-2026-656373.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-reaffirms-opposition-to-any-form-of-taiwan-independence-656377.html Moscow Dec 31 Russia recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of China and opposes any form of Taiwan independence the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Some countries while claiming their adherence to the oneChina principle advocate maintaining the status quo which runs counter to the principle of Chinas national reunification the ministry said in a statement sent to XinhuaThe Taiwan question is currently being used by certain countries as an instrument of military and strategic containment against China Xinhua news agency reported quoting the ministryRussias principled position on the Taiwan question is well known unchanged and has been repeatedly reaffirmed at the highest level it said adding that the Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair and China has every legitimate basis to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrityMeanwhile According to a US Defence Department report submitted to Congress China is building the military capability to seize Taiwan and aims to be ready for war by 2027The report says the Peopleâs Liberation Army has made âsteady progressâ toward its 2027 goals One of those goals is the ability to achieve a âstrategic decisive victoryâ over TaiwanChina the report says aligns its military plans with those of the United States The PLA views Washington as the âstrong enemyâ it must be able to defeatBeijingâs strategy on Taiwan has also evolved The report says China no longer focuses only on deterring independence Instead it applies ânear constant pressureâ on Taipei to force unification on Beijingâs termsThat pressure includes military activity diplomacy economic steps and information campaigns Together these tools are meant to weaken Taiwanâs resistance IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-reaffirms-opposition-to-any-form-of-taiwan-independence-656377.html Wed, 31 Dec 2025 07:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-engagement-largely-declaratory-than-transformative-amid-growing-afghanistan-pakistan-conflict-656156.html Kabul Dec 29 The AfghanistanâPakistan conflict exposes the limits of Chinas diplomatic ceiling effective in financing infrastructure sustaining political partnerships and providing strategic cover to allied governments but constrained when conflict management requires confronting allies engaging fragmented actors or dealing with nationalist politics resistant to transactional solutions a report said on Monday It added that unless China reconsiders the assumptions guiding its regional diplomacy â moving beyond quiet mediation and the belief that economic incentives alone can resolve political conflicts â it may remain an influential regional actor but unlikely to become a stabilising force as expected by manyRenewed violence along the AfghanistanâPakistan border in recent months has underscored not only the fragility of relations between Kabul and Islamabad but also the constraints facing Chinas role as a regional diplomatic actor Exchanges of fire near major crossings Pakistans airstrikes that resulted in civilian casualties inside Afghanistan Kabuls retaliatory responses and repeated border closures mark a departure from the sporadic incidents of previous years What has emerged instead is a more entrenched cycle of escalation with both sides attempting to assert red lines along the disputed Durand Line a report in Afghanistans leading news agency Khaama Press Agency detailedAt the core of this confrontation lies a structural impasse that has resisted external mediation Pakistan continues to demand that the Taliban authorities take decisive action against the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP which Islamabad says operates from Afghan territory The Taliban for their part have either been unwilling or unable to meet the scale of enforcement Pakistan seeks Any largescale crackdown risks internal fragmentation within the Taliban whose cohesion depends on a delicate balance among competing factions it addedAccording to the report with economic and strategic interests such as the ChinaâPakistan Economic Corridor CPEC and emerging mining and connectivity projects in Afghanistan sustained instability along the border poses a direct concern for Beijing While China has both access to key decisionmakers and incentives to encourage deescalation in practice Beijings influence has remained largely limitedBeijings response has largely followed a familiar pattern calls for restraint dialogue and consultation among neighbouring states coupled with expressions of readiness to play a constructive role if requested Yet China has not initiated or led a substantive trilateral mechanism capable of addressing the underlying drivers of the crisis Its preference for quiet behindthescenes diplomacy has not altered the strategic calculations of either Kabul or Islamabad Violence has persisted grievances have deepened and Chinaâs engagement has remained largely declaratory rather than transformative the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/chinas-engagement-largely-declaratory-than-transformative-amid-growing-afghanistan-pakistan-conflict-656156.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/rising-islamist-extremism-in-bangladesh-threatens-global-stability-report-656162.html Tel Aviv Dec 29 Bangladeshs drift towards Islamist extremism enabled by complacency is not merely a distant domestic concern but a strategic warning with potential repercussions that could spill onto European streets and target Israeli and Jewish communities worldwide if left unaddressed a report detailed on Monday For years Bangladesh was treated by Western policymakers as a peripheral concern in the global fight against Islamist extremism â too distant too inwardlooking too preoccupied with domestic politics to matter strategically That illusion is collapsing under the interim regime of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus Sergio Restelli an Italian political advisor author and geopolitical expert wrote in Times of IsraelAccording to Restelli the recent incident of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das who was killed in mob lynching in Bangladesh amid religious incitement with inaction from law enforcement is not an aberration but a reflection of a deeper and more dangerous transformation unfolding inside one of the worlds most populous Muslimmajority statesBangladesh is undergoing a visible Islamist drift marked by mob violence intimidation of minorities silencing of secular voices and the normalisation of religious vigilantism These developments are often framed as internal lawandorder failures by Yunus who took over once a Muslim brotherhood backed student coup deposed democratically elected Sheikh Hasina In reality they represent the growth of an ideological ecosystem that does not stop at Bangladeshs borders â and one that increasingly intersects with global jihadist narratives hostile to the West and obsessively fixated on Israel the expert detailedThe brutal killing of Das the report stressed not only exposed the vulnerability of Bangladeshs Hindu minority but also reflected how religious violence is gaining social legitimacyLynching is not spontaneous it requires moral permission When mobs act in the name of religious righteousness and face weak consequences extremism migrates from the margins to the mainstream That shift is what should alarm Israeli and European security planners alike it mentionedThe report highlighted that when religious minorities are killed with impunity when mob violence is legitimised and when Islamist rhetoric links local grievance with global hatred the consequences transcend national bordersWhat begins as persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh can over time translate into radicalisation pipelines affecting European citiesâand ultimately Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide it noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/rising-islamist-extremism-in-bangladesh-threatens-global-stability-report-656162.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-military-driven-foreign-policy-fuels-regional-stability--656166.html Islamabad Dec 29 The South Asian region is heading towards a volatile phase marked by deadly clashes renewed refugee flows and entrenched cycles of vengeance propelled by Pakistans military establishment a report said on Monday It added that the AfghanistanPakistan conflict has largely been shaped and sustained by a militaryled diplomatic framework that avoids accountability and thrives in an environment of chaosAccording to a report in âAsian News Postâ Islamabadâs militaryled strategy has failed to secure Pakistanâs borders safeguard its citizens and generate goodwill abroad Instead it has fueled widespread suffering humanitarian crises and destabilised the wider regionâThe ongoing conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan is not simply a clash between two neighbours It is the outcome of the Pakistan militarydriven diplomacy one built on crisis force and nationalsecurity posturing rather than honest dialogue Four years after the Taliban took over in Kabul the same Pakistani military and intelligence networks that once welcomed them are now blaming the Taliban for crossborder violence forcing Afghan refugees from Pakistan and launching airstrikes and shelling inside Afghanistanâ it detailedThis pattern of largely onesided violence the report said underscored not only the failure of Pakistanâs Afghanistan policy but also a deeper structural problem when the military controls the foreign policy peace ceases to be the goal and instead becomes an obstacleâBack in August 2021 many analysts believed a Talibanled Afghanistan would give Pakistan a strategic partner in the neighbourhood The Pakistan military saw value in reduced border friction regional leverage and a friendly regime in Kabul Some within Pakistans security establishment openly celebrated the Talibanâs return to power as a victory of the longheld strategic depth policy Over time however the reality proved sharply differentâ it statedBy the end of 2025 Pakistan accused the Taliban government of sheltering militants linked to suicide bombings and attacks inside Pakistan including those by the TehrikâeâTaliban Pakistan TTP The accusations led to an escalation of violence and further eroded trust between the two sidesThe report highlighted that violence unfolded despite fresh peace talks in Saudi Arabia involving negotiators from both sides The negotiations collapsed swiftly unable to bridge the deepseated distrust and mutual blameâThis pattern reveals a stark truth that the Pakistan militarydriven policy on Afghanistan has wholly failed to bring peace with the Taliban in the last four years It appears Rawalpindi wants to project strength orchestrating crises and using conflict to justify its permanent influence in the country Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir recently warned the Taliban to choose between friendly ties with Islamabad or support for âterrorist groupsâ a thinly veiled threat that highlights how coercion overrides diplomacy in Pakistan the report noted IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistans-military-driven-foreign-policy-fuels-regional-stability--656166.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ensure-weight-loss-medicines-are-safe-legitimate-before-new-year-resolution-uks-health-agency-656175.html New Delhi Dec 29 New Year is the time for many people to pledge reforms in habits and lifestyle something resorting to drastic measures but UKs Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency MHRA has urged the people to make sure any weightloss medicines they use are safe effective and legitimate The MHRA has warned about the serious risks linked to buying weightloss products from unregulated websites or through social media where products sold illegally may be fake contaminated incorrectly dosed or contain powerful ingredients not listed on the packaging Britains Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a press statement on MondayThese can lead to dangerous side effects including heart problems psychological effects and dangerously low blood sugar it addedSafe appropriate licensed obesity drugs can greatly benefit those with a clinical need but should be obtained from a registered pharmacy against a valid prescription the statement quoted UKs Health Minister Zubir Ahmed himself a practising doctorThe MHRA has advised to not buy prescriptiononly medicines without a prescription and procure medicines from registered pharmacies or legitimate retailersIt also urged people to avoid weightloss products promoted on social media especially those promising quick fixes miracle results or unusually low prices which it ascribed as being common signs of illegal sellersIf considering weightloss treatment one should talk to the general practitioner or qualified medical doctor pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professionalPeople often look for ways to support their health at this time of year but buying medicines from illegal online sellers can put your health at real risk Always make sure you are using authorised products from legitimate sources and speak to a healthcare professional for advice on safe evidencebased options the statement added quoting Jenn Matthissen from the MHRAs Safety and Surveillance teamThe MHRA an executive agency of UKs Department of Health and Social Care is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the country by ensuring they work and are acceptably safeEarlier the US Food and Drug Administration FDA had also warned about unapproved versions of certain drugs as an option for weight lossIt termed such drugs risky for patients as unapproved versions do not undergo FDAs review for safety effectiveness and quality before they are marketed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ensure-weight-loss-medicines-are-safe-legitimate-before-new-year-resolution-uks-health-agency-656175.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-says-kyiv-launched-drone-attack-on-presidential-residence-in-novgorod-656179.html Moscow Dec 30 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Kyiv launched an overnight drone attack targeting the presidential residence in Russias northwestern region of Novgorod On the night of December 2829 the Kyiv regime launched a terrorist attack using 91 longrange strike drones on the state residence of the President of the Russian Federation Lavrov said on MondayHe added that all incoming drones were shot down by air defence systems of the Russian Armed Forces and no reports of casualties or damage caused by drone debris were received Xinhua news agency reportedLavrov emphasised that the attack was carried out amid intensive RussiaUS negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine crisisHe warned that such reckless actions would not go unanswered confirming that the Russian Armed Forces had already identified the targets for retaliatory strikes and set the timing for their executionLavrov also noted that Moscow had no intention of withdrawing from the negotiation process with the United StatesUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday denied the accusation of the attack calling it another lie from the Russian FederationHe said such claims are intended to justify Russian attacks on Ukraine including strikes on the capital as well as Russias own refusal to take necessary steps to end the crisisTheyre simply preparing the ground to carry out strikes probably on the capital and probably on government buildings he saidThis alleged residence strike story is a complete fabrication Zelensky saidHe stressed that Ukraine does not take steps that can undermine diplomatic efforts but Russia always takes such steps IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-says-kyiv-launched-drone-attack-on-presidential-residence-in-novgorod-656179.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/former-bangladesh-prime-minister-and-bnp-chief-khaleda-zia-passes-away-at-80-656214.html Dhaka Dec 30 Bangladeshâs former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia died early Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness at the age of 80 her party confirmed According to a statement issued by the BNP Khaleda Zia passed away at around 6 am at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka where she had been undergoing treatment for more than a monthâThe BNP Chairperson and former prime minister the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia passed away today at 600 am just after the Fajr dawn prayerâ the statement saidParty leaders and supporters expressed deep grief over her death remembering her as a towering political figure who played a defining role in Bangladeshâs modern political history âWe pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soulâ the BNP addedKhaleda Zia had been admitted to the private hospital on November 23 after developing serious complications related to her heart and lungs Bangladeshi media reports said she was also suffering from pneumonia during her final weeks She had remained under close medical supervision for 36 days with her condition described as fragileOver the years the former prime minister battled multiple chronic health conditions including liver cirrhosis diabetes arthritis and longstanding complications involving her kidneys lungs heart and eyesight Her treatment was being overseen by a multidisciplinary medical team that included specialists from Bangladesh as well as doctors from the United Kingdom the United States China and AustraliaEarlier this month discussions were held about transferring her abroad for advanced medical care However those plans were ultimately shelved after doctors advised that her physical condition was too weak to endure international travelKhaleda Zia the widow of former President Ziaur Rahman made history as Bangladeshâs first woman prime minister and served two terms in office Despite years of legal and health challenges she remained a central figure in national politics with many supporters believing she could have played a key role in future electionsShe is survived by her elder son BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman his wife Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima Rahman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after spending 17 years in exile Her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko died several years ago in MalaysiaTributes continued to pour in from party leaders political allies and supporters marking the end of an era in Bangladeshâs turbulent political landscape IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/former-bangladesh-prime-minister-and-bnp-chief-khaleda-zia-passes-away-at-80-656214.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/record-number-of-police-to-patrol-sydneys-new-year-celebrations-following-bondi-shooting-656215.html Sydney Dec 30 A record number of police officers will be deployed to patrol New Years celebrations in Sydney following the fatal mass shooting at Bondi Beach the police force in the state of New South Wales NSW said on Tuesday The NSW Police Force said in a statement that more than 2500 officers in uniform and plain clothes will conduct highvisibility patrols in the Sydney metropolitan area during New Years Eve celebrations on WednesdayUp to one million people are expected to watch the iconic fireworks displays over the Sydney Harbor The NSW Police Force said that the increased presence of officers will ensure the community are safe and feel safe following the fatal shooting of 15 people at Bondi Beach on December 14Speaking at a press conference alongside Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon NSW Premier Chris Minns said on Tuesday that some officers will be carrying longarm firearmsYou can expect more guns for the police and less guns for members of the community he saidWe need to show defiance in the face of this evil and the best way of doing that is to spend some time with your friends and your family on New Years Eve on Sydney HarborLanyon told reporters that there is no specific threat to members of the public and the community should not feel afraid of the heavy police presence Xinhua news agency reportedThe NSW Police Force said that general duty officers from every police district across the state will be assisted by specialist officers from the riot squad mounted and dog squad marine command and the aviation commandEarlier on December 29 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had announced the terms for an independent review of the Bondi Beach terror attack but he again resisted calls to launch a royal commissionThe review led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson will assess whether multiple agencies including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Federal Police operated as effectively as possible prior to the attack IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/record-number-of-police-to-patrol-sydneys-new-year-celebrations-following-bondi-shooting-656215.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-moves-to-shut-asylum-loophole-us-media-656216.html Washington Dec 30 The Trump administration is moving to sharply restrict access to asylum by urging US immigration judges to dismiss cases without hearings and redirect migrants to third countries a shift officials say is aimed at closing what they describe as a huge loophole in legal immigration according to a report by Politico The Department of Homeland Security has asked courts to summarily dismiss asylum applications and remove migrants to third countries where they could seek protection even if they have no prior ties thereThe approach relies on socalled safe thirdcountry agreements negotiated with nations including Uganda Honduras and Ecuador the news outlet reportedThe effort forms part of a broader push to curb immigration and accelerate deportations as the administration seeks to meet an ambitious annual removal targetAsylum filings have surged in recent years with nearly 900000 claims pending before immigration courts in fiscal year 2024 compared with about 200000 annually during President Donald Trumps first termAsylum was not designed to provide people a backdoor way to get to a country of their choosing a senior administration official was quoted as saying defending the policyIf the United States is confident that they can be successfully removed to another country where they will not be threatened then theres no reason or expectation that they should be allowed to remain hereThe administrations strategy gained momentum in October when the Justice Departments Board of Immigration Appeals instructed judges to consider thirdcountry removal before weighing asylum claims in the United StatesFollowing that guidance DHS attorneys asked judges to dismiss nearly 5000 cases in November more than double the figure from October Politico reportedImmigration lawyers and advocacy groups say the policy further weakens humanitarian protections built into the US asylum system The administration wants to demolish our humanitarian protection system said Rebekah Wolf of the American Immigration Council They do not want to have people have the ability to apply for asylum in the United StatesAdministration officials reject that criticism arguing that individuals with genuine fears of persecution should focus on safety rather than location They shouldnt care about what specific location one official said adding that disagreements with the law should be taken up in CongressThe Trump administration has expanded its use of thirdcountry arrangements including deportations to African nations and a recent deal with Palau to accept a limited number of migrants in exchange for US aid Supporters of the policy say it restores asylum to its original intent Its a way to deter bogus asylum claims said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration StudiesDHS maintains that the policy is lawful and necessary to reduce the immigration court backlog which officials say has fallen to under 375 million casesThe administration projects nearly 600000 deportations in its first year surpassing previous US recordsSuch a move might hit asylum seekers from India in particular those supported by Sikh separatist groups in the name of false political oppressionIn recent years American authorities have faced a steady flow of asylum claims from foreign nationals alleging political persecution abroad including claims linked to separatist narrativesIndian officials have repeatedly maintained that there is no statesponsored political repression in Punjab and that such claims misrepresent ground realitiesNew Delhi has also flagged concerns over individuals facing criminal charges in India allegedly misusing asylum systems overseas an issue that could be indirectly affected as Washington narrows the scope for asylumbased entry IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-moves-to-shut-asylum-loophole-us-media-656216.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-national-challenges-us-immigration-detention-656219.html Washington Dec 30 A federal judge in California has directed US immigration officials to justify the detention of an Indian national after finding his legal challenge credible enough to proceed The order was issued on December 24 by the US District Court for the Southern District of California which asked the government to respond to a habeas corpus petition filed by Naveen Naveen an Indian citizen contesting the legal basis of his continued immigration detentionIn his order the judge said the petition shows sufficient potential merit and should not be dismissed at an early stage Under federal rules a habeas petition may move forward as long as it raises a legally cognizable claim and does not plainly show that the petitioner is not entitled to reliefCourt records state that Naveen a citizen of India entered the United States on April 18 2023 from Mexico without inspection He was apprehended by Customs and Border Protection shortly after crossing the border and was later released on an Order of Release on RecognizanceOn the same date immigration authorities issued him a Notice to Appear in immigration court charging him as an alien present in the United States without admission or paroleAccording to the petition Naveen was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on November 3 2025 during a prescheduled ICE checkin ICE has concluded that he is subject to mandatory detention under section 1225b2A of the Immigration and Nationality Act and is therefore ineligible for release on bondNaveen disputes that interpretation He argues that his detention should instead be governed by section 1226a of the statute which allows for release on bond or conditional parole while immigration proceedings are pendingIn his order Judge Andrew G Schopler said the challenge meets the threshold required at this stage of the case Citing recent appellate guidance the court noted that summary dismissal is not appropriate âas long as a petition has any potential meritâThe judge also pointed to a growing body of federal court rulings across the country that have examined similar detention disputes In many of those cases courts have found that petitioners were likely to succeed on the merits or have granted relief after determining that section 1226a rather than section 1225b2 governs detention in comparable circumstancesThe order referred to several similar decisions from federal courts in New York California Nevada and Washington It noted that a large majority of opinions addressing the issue have ruled in favor of detainees or questioned the governmentâs interpretation of the statute IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-national-challenges-us-immigration-detention-656219.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:25:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/alleged-sydney-shooters-were-not-part-of-terror-cell-police-say-656221.html Canberra Dec 30 The alleged perpetrators of the fatal mass shooting at Sydneys Bondi Beach earlier in December acted alone and were not part of a broader terrorist cell authorities said on Tuesday Australian Federal Police AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said at a press conference in Canberra that there is no evidence to suggest that the alleged offenders were part of a broader terrorist cell or were directed by others to carry out the fatal shooting of 15 people at Sydneys Bondi Beach on December 14She said that a joint investigation with the Philippine National Police has confirmed that 50yearold Sajid Akram who was shot dead by police at the scene of the attack and his 24yearold son Naveed Akram travelled to the Philippines from November 1 to November 29The AFP is continuing to review CCTV footage but Barrett said that the pair rarely left their accommodation in Davao City and did not receive any training or logistical preparation for the attack while in the Philippines Xinhua news agency reportedHowever I want to be clear I am not suggesting that they were there for tourism she saidMeanwhile a record number of police officers will be deployed to patrol New Years celebrations in Sydney following the fatal mass shooting at Bondi Beach the police force in the state of New South Wales NSW said on TuesdayThe NSW Police Force said in a statement that more than 2500 officers in uniform and plain clothes will conduct highvisibility patrols in the Sydney metropolitan area during New Years Eve celebrations on WednesdayUp to one million people are expected to watch the iconic fireworks displays over the Sydney Harbor The NSW Police Force said that the increased presence of officers will ensure the community are safe and feel safe following the fatal shooting of 15 people at Bondi Beach on December 14Earlier on December 29 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had announced the terms for an independent review of the Bondi Beach terror attack but he again had resisted calls to launch a royal commission IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/alleged-sydney-shooters-were-not-part-of-terror-cell-police-say-656221.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-man-charged-with-international-terrorism-for-supporting-isis-656228.html Texas Dec 30 An alleged ISIS sympathiser from Midlothian Texas has been charged with international terrorism after he allegedly provided money and explosive materials to an undercover FBI agent whom he believed to be associated with the terror group John Michael Garza Jr 21 is facing a federal charge of international terrorism for allegedly supplying funds and bomb components to individuals he thought were ISIS supporters the US Department of Justice announced on December 29ISIS poisonous ideology must be ripped out root and stem anyone who tries to commit violence on ISISs behalf will be found arrested and prosecuted Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a press release You cannot hide from usGarza appeared before a federal magistrate judge on December 23 and a probable cause and detention hearing has been scheduled for December 30If convicted he could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prisonUS Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould said the operation relied on vigilant observation and swift action to prevent what he described as a potentially devastating outcomeThe increasing threats of harm and destruction in our country made by those aligned with violent ideologies must be stopped Raybould said in the release We will continue to take prompt action against those attempting to carry out alleged terrorist missionsAccording to the Justice Department an undercover employee of the New York Police Department noticed a social media account in midOctober that was following proISIS pages and commenting on a proISIS postFurther investigation allegedly revealed that the account belonged to GarzaThe undercover NYPD officer initiated contact during which Garza identified himself as a 21yearold MexicanAmerican living in Texas The two continued communicating through November and DecemberDuring this period Garza allegedly stated that he ascribed to the ISIS ideology and shared multiple official ISIS media releasesInvestigators said Garza sent small amounts of cryptocurrency to the undercover NYPD employee believing the funds were being used to support ISISrelated causes including the purchase of firearms and other materialsHe also allegedly shared a video depicting a suicide bombing and another video providing instructions on bombmakingThe release further stated that Garza began discussing plans to acquire materials for making explosivesHe allegedly arranged to meet a second individual whom he believed to be an ISIS supporter but who was in fact an FBI special agent on December 22During the meeting Garza allegedly handed over several explosive components to the agent and explained how to combine them and pack them with nails He also reportedly offered to send an instructional video on making bombsLaw enforcement agents arrested Garza shortly after the meetingThe FBI worked alongside our law enforcement partners to quickly arrest an individual who intended to provide bomb making materials to a foreign terrorist organisation said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R Joseph RothrockThe investigation was led jointly by the FBI Dallas and the NYPD with assistance from FBI New York the Dallas Police Department the Midlothian Police Department and the Euless Police Department according to the statementThe threats of terrorism and extremist violence against our nation are still very real NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in the release The NYPD remains committed to identifying disrupting and dismantling these networks at their source before they can reach their murderous endsTisch added that anyone who endangers American lives will face prosecution and be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-man-charged-with-international-terrorism-for-supporting-isis-656228.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-confirms-seasons-1st-bird-flu-outbreak-in-greater-tokyo-area-656239.html Tokyo Dec 30 Japans agriculture ministry said on Tuesday that it has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in Saitama Prefecture marking the countrys 12th outbreak this season and the first case in the greater Tokyo area The affected farm is located in Ranzan Town Saitama north of Tokyo which raises about 240000 egglaying chickens according to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and FisheriesThe greater Tokyo area comprises Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures of Saitama Chiba and KanagawaThe Saitama prefectural government said in a statement that all chickens at the farm will be culled incinerated and buried Disinfection efforts around the farm will be strengthened to prevent further spread of the virus and movement restrictions will also be imposed on poultry at nearby farms it addedThe agriculture ministry said it will step up measures to prevent further spread and dispatch an epidemiological investigation team to the farm It also urged prefectural governments nationwide to remain vigilant and to strictly enforce early detection prompt reporting and hygiene management measures at poultry facilities Xinhua news agency reportedJapans avian influenza season typically runs from autumn until the following spring The previous 11th outbreaks this season have already led to the culling of over 365 million chickensAccording to the World Health Organization avian influenza also known as bird flu is a type of zoonotic or animal influenza that affects wild birds and poultry and is caused by virus subtypes AH5N1 AH9N2 Avian influenza has occasionally infected humans however it does not easily transmit between humans The majority of human cases of avian influenza have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultrySince it was first reported in Hong Kong in 1997 the disease has been responsible for human outbreaks and deaths in 16 countries in Africa Asia Europe and the Middle East In 2006 avian influenza caused by the highly pathogenic AH5N1 influenza virus spread rapidly through the Eastern Mediterranean Region with large nonhuman outbreaks reported in Afghanistan Djibouti Egypt Iraq Jordan occupied Palestinian territories Pakistan and Sudan Transmission of the AH5N1 influenza virus from infected birds to humans was confirmed in Djibouti Egypt Iraq and Pakistan and Since then avian influenza has become endemic among poultry in EgyptThe incubation period for the AH5N1 ranges from 2 to 5 days on average and up to 17 days Symptoms of infection in humans include fever malaise cough sore throat and muscle aches Severe disease and death may result from a complication of pneumonia The case fatality rate for avian influenza among humans is much higher than that for seasonal influenza infection IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-confirms-seasons-1st-bird-flu-outbreak-in-greater-tokyo-area-656239.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-lee-calls-for-unity-inclusion-amid-backlash-over-his-pick-of-opposition-figure-as-minister-656240.html Seoul Dec 30 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for unity and inclusion on Tuesday after his nomination of an Opposition politician to a ministerial post drew backlash from both the ruling and Opposition blocs Lee made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting stressing that sustained efforts toward unity are essential to building a society that moves away from extreme confrontation and toward one that embraces differencesThis is not a political maneuver Lee said If we are to return to a normal society we must make efforts toward unity and inclusion more strongly and consistently Yonhap News Agency reportedIf only those who took part in the struggle for power are allowed to enjoy everything and everyone else is excluded that is not politics but war he saidOn Sunday Lee nominated Lee Hyehoon a former threeterm conservative lawmaker to head the newly established Ministry of Planning and Budget But her nomination has sparked criticism from both sides of the aisle especially since she is known to have supported Yoon Suk Yeols martial law bidLee Hyehoon apologised on Tuesday for her past remarks supporting the botched martial law Some Opposition lawmakers have called her a traitorThe president also pointed out that such acts of trying to eliminate all groups over different views are precisely what constitute insurrectionThe presidents greatest responsibility is to bring national unity he said adding that differing positions should be seen as not a source of discomfort but a source of synergyMondays Cabinet meeting marked the first since the relocation of the presidential compound back to Cheong Wa Dae from Yongsan where it had been relocated under the previous Yoon governmentLee said the relocation reflects the restoration of South Koreas democracy ending a period that eroded the constitutional orderThe return to Cheong Wa Dae is a symbolic milestone that brings to a close the Yongsan era marred by the erosion of the constitutional order and demonstrates that sovereignty and democracy have been restored he saidWe will further reinforce our principle and philosophy that the people are at the center of state affairs and that governance is achieved through the people he saidYoon who was removed from office in April following his failed attempt to impose martial law relocated the presidential office to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan after taking office in 2022 Returning to Cheong Wa Dae was one of Lees early campaign pledgesLee went on to highlight that the country has overcome the unprecedented crisis triggered by the martial law through the strength of the people mentioning latest upbeat export and foreign investment figures as a sign of recovery and normalization of state affairsWe will move forward toward a major leap for growth that benefits everyone he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-lee-calls-for-unity-inclusion-amid-backlash-over-his-pick-of-opposition-figure-as-minister-656240.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/from-indias-jalpaiguri-to-dhaka-khaleda-zias-noteworthy-journey-656245.html Dhaka Dec 30 Khaleda Zias journey from being born in undivided India to becoming Bangladeshs first woman Prime Minister established her as a prominent figure in the South Asian nations politics for over four decades Zia a threetime Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP died early on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness at the age of 80Rising from a largely private life she became the countrys first female Prime Minister and a defining figure in its postindependence historyKhaleda Zia was born in 1945 in Jalpaiguri part of Greater Dinajpur in undivided India Khaleda later moved with her family to what was then East Pakistan following the partition of IndiaIn 1960 she married Ziaur Rahman then a captain in the Pakistani Army Ziaur Rahman later revolted against Pakistani forces during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation WarHe went on to serve as the President of Bangladesh in 1977 and formed the BNP the following yearAfter Ziaur Rahmans assassination on May 30 1981 BNP plunged into a serious crisis prompting senior leaders and BNP workers to urge Khaleda Zia to assume a leadership role in the partyShe was appointed as the VicePresident of the party on January 12 1984 and was elected BNPs chairperson on May 10 in the same year She retained her position through successive party councils in 1993 2009 and 2016 cementing a nearly 41year tenure as BNP chairpersonFollowing BNPs victory in the 1991 parliamentary election Khaleda Zia was sworn in as the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh She assumed the office of the Prime Minister for a second consecutive term after the 1996 national elections which were held amid a boycott from major opposition parties She was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time on October 10 2001Zias tenure as Bangladesh Prime Minister also coincided with some of the most difficult phases in IndiaâBangladesh relations a period characterised by hostility and several missed strategic opportunitiesIn her early years Khaleda Zia adopted a cautious and in many respects adversarial posture towards New Delhi a stance that shaped bilateral ties for over a decadeZia consistently opposed overland transit and connectivity initiatives with India both during her time as Prime Minister and later as Leader of the Opposition a role she held twice between 1996 and 2014As Prime Minister she flatly denied India transit rights through Bangladeshi territory to access its northeastern states arguing that such arrangements would compromise Bangladeshs security and sovereigntyShe went further to claim that tollfree movement of Indian trucks on Bangladeshi roads amounted to slaveryHer resistance also extended to diplomatic agreementsZia opposed the renewal of the 1972 IndoBangladesh Friendship Treaty widely regarded by strategic experts as significant from a military standpointShe argued the treaty had shackled Bangladesh and constrained its independencePositioning her Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP as a protector of Bangladeshs interests Zia often framed her policies as a defence against what she described as Indian dominationThis rhetoric was evident even years later At a rally in Dhaka in 2018 when Sheikh Hasina was Prime Minister and Zia was Leader of the Opposition she criticised Hasina for exempting India from paying transit dutiesAnother major source of friction during Zias tenure was Indias Farakka Barrage operational since 1975 to divert water from the Ganges into the Hooghly River through a feeder canalWhile the barrage helps reduce silt improves navigability around Kolkata Port and supplies fresh water to the city Zia maintained that it deprived Bangladesh of its rightful share of Ganges waterIn 2007 she accused India of deliberately opening sluice gates to aggravate flooding in BangladeshHer foreign policy choices further heightened tensionsIn 2002 Zia actively pursued defence cooperation with ChinaIndia viewed this as a direct strategic challenge and responded by increasing diplomatic pressure This included a counteroffensive in which Delhi accused the BNP government of sheltering separatist groups and terrorists operating in Indias northeastern statesZia had earlier described insurgent outfits such as ULFA and NSCN as freedom fightersDuring her tenure India alleged that antiIndia terror groups operated freely from Bangladeshi soil The 2004 Chittagong arms haul intended for Indian insurgents minority violence within Bangladesh and the neartotal absence of cooperation on counterterrorism further strained relationsTies between the two neighbours began to improve only after Zia exited powerFor more than three decades Bangladeshi politics was dominated by two women Khaleda Zia and Awami League chief Sheikh HasinaAfter the Sheikh Hasinaled government came to power in 2009 Zia renewed what she described as her struggle for democracyShe was evicted from her residence and placed under house arrest twice during movements she launched against the government In 2011 she received international recognition when New Jerseys State Senate honoured her as a Fighter for DemocracyKhaleda Zia was sentenced to five years imprisonment by a special court in Dhaka on February 8 2018 in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption caseHer jail sentence was suspended on March 25 2020 when the then Awami League government temporarily released her through an executive order amid the Covid19 pandemic on the condition that she remain in her Gulshan home and not leave the countryShe was completely freed on August 6 2024 after President Mohammed Shahabuddin granted her an exemption from the sentence under the presidential powersKhaleda Zia returned to Dhaka this May after four months of medical treatment in LondonShe had been admitted to the private hospital in Dhaka on November 23 after developing serious complications related to her heart and lungs and remained under close medical supervision before passing away on TuesdayShe is survived by her elder son BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman his wife Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Zaima RahmanTarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after spending 17 years in selfimposed exile Her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko died several years ago in Malaysia IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/from-indias-jalpaiguri-to-dhaka-khaleda-zias-noteworthy-journey-656245.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-sets-hard-line-on-hamas-iran-at-netanyahu-meet-656249.html Washington Dec 30 US President Donald Trump warned Hamas to disarm within a âvery short period of timeâ cautioned Iran against rebuilding military capabilities and reaffirmed an exceptionally close USâIsrael partnership âWe talked about Hamas and we talked about disarmament and theyre going to be given a very short period of time to disarmâ Trump told reporters during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in MaraLago on MondayHe said Hamas had already committed to doing soâIf they dont disarm as they agreed to doâ then theyll be held to pay for themâ Trump said âThey have to disarm within a fairly short period of timeâTrump said the enforcement would not fall solely on IsraelâIf they say theyre not going to disarm those same countries will wipe out Hamasâ he said âThey dont even need IsraelâHe said 59 countries were aligned behind the current peace frameworkâWe have 59 countries that signed on big countriesâ Trump said âThis is a real peace in the Middle East and Hamas is a small part of it but its still a part of itâAsked whether Israel would withdraw troops before Hamas fully disarms Trump separated the two issuesâWell thats a separate subject Well talk about thatâ he saidTrump rejected claims that Israel was delaying implementation of later phases of the peace planâTheyve lived up to the plan 100 percentâ he saidHe said his concerns were directed elsewhereâIm not concerned about anything that Israel is doingâ Trump said âIm concerned about what other people are doing or maybe arent doingâTrump repeatedly linked regional stability to Iran warning that renewed military activity would draw swift actionâI hope theyre not trying to build up againâ he said âIf they areâ were going to have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that buildupâHe said intelligence suggested Iran might be exploring alternative locations after earlier strikesâThe sites were obliterated but theyre looking at other sitesâ Trump said âTheyre lookingâTrump said Iran would face consequences if those reports were confirmedâConsequences will be very powerful maybe more powerful than the last timeâ he saidAt the same time Trump said he was open to diplomacyâYeah I wouldâ he said when asked whether he supported bilateral discussions with TehranTrump said he had previously urged negotiationsâI said lets negotiate and they didnt believe what was going to happen would happenâ he said âNow they believe meâNetanyahu praised Trumpâs approach and personal commitment to IsraelâWeve never had a friend even close to a friend as President Trump in the White Houseâ Netanyahu saidHe described their cooperation as âa partnership second to noneâNetanyahu announced that Israel would award Trump the Israel Prize the countryâs highest civilian honorâWe decided to break a conventionâ Netanyahu said noting that the prize had never before been awarded to a nonIsraeliâWere going to award it this year to President Donald J Trump for his tremendous contributions to Israel and the Jewish peopleâ he saidTrump called the recognition âa great honorâTrump described Netanyahu as a wartime leader whose decisions had shaped Israelâs survivalâHes a wartime prime minister at the highest levelâ Trump saidâIf you had eight out of 10 prime ministers in his position right nowâ you wouldnt have Israel any longerâ he addedTrump said the broader peace effort had been made possible by earlier US actions against IranâIf we didnt do what we did to Iranâ you wouldnt have peace in the Middle Eastâ he saidTrump also addressed Syria saying the US had an âunderstandingâ with the countryâs new leadershipâI respect him Hes a very strong guyâ Trump saidNetanyahu said Israelâs priorities were security and protection of minoritiesâOur interest is to have a peaceful border with Syriaâ he said âWe want to secure our Druze friendsâHe added that âChristians should be protected as well in Syria and throughout the Middle EastâOn Lebanon Trump said Hezbollah remained a concern âHezbollah has been behaving badlyâ he saidTrump said the Abraham Accords would expand âTheyll be expanded fairly quicklyâ he saidThroughout the press conference Trump stressed deterrence backed by force if required âIf they build up there cant be peace in the Middle Eastâ he said referring again to IranHamas has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 and is designated a terrorist organization by the United States Repeated ceasefire efforts have failed over disarmament and security guaranteesDevelopments in West Asia are closely followed by India and the Indian diaspora due to strategic interests energy security and the presence of millions of Indian nationals across the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-sets-hard-line-on-hamas-iran-at-netanyahu-meet-656249.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-strikes-dock-area-in-venezuela-656258.html Washington Dec 30 US President Donald Trump said that the United States knocked out last week a dock area in Venezuela which was used by alleged drug traffickers to load boats up with drugs If his words were accurate it would be the first known land strike by the Trump administration against the oilrich South American nation reports Xinhua news agencyThere was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs Trump told reporters in Florida So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area its an implementation area thats where they implement and that is no longer aroundHe didnt reveal whether the Pentagon or another US entity carried out the operationVenezuelas government has yet to respondCNN citing anonymous sources familiar with the operation reported Monday night that the Central Intelligence Agency CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela targeting a remote dock that US officials believed was being used by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to store drugs and transfer them onto boats for shipmentNo one was present at the site at the time of the strike and there were no casualties the sources said adding that US Special Operations Forces provided intelligence support for the operationTrump first revealed the strike in an interview with WABC radio on Friday saying that his administration knocked out a big facility allegedly producing illicit drugs in VenezuelaWe just knocked out I dont know if you read or you saw they have a big plant or big facility where they send the you know where the ships come from Two nights ago we knocked that out so we hit them very hard Trump said in the phone interviewFor months the United States has been ramping up its military presence in Caribbean waters near Venezuela as part of what the White House has described as an antinarcoterrorism campaign It has sunk about 30 alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific since September causing more than 100 deathsVenezuela has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin AmericaOn Friday Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States on the basis of mutual respect provided that the United States refrains from interfering in Venezuela IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-strikes-dock-area-in-venezuela-656258.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/with-khaleda-zia-gone-bnps-surge-threatens-isis-jamaat-centric-strategy-656259.html New Delhi Dec 30 The death of Bangladeshâs First Lady Prime Minister Khaleda Zia comes at a time when the country is gearing up for a very crucial election on February 12 Zia 80 died this morning after a prolonged illness She was on life support for the last couple of weeks and breathed her last at 6 am on December 30 While Khaleda Ziaâs Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP has been on course to win the elections experts say the chances now are that it will get a larger number of seats A sympathy wave would surely be a factor during the elections and this is bound to help the BNP considerably experts sayBangladesh watchers say that owing to health reasons Zia has been out of the mainstream for quite some time While the BNP and JamaateIslami were together during the events that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina the two parted ways afterwards Despite being coalition partners when the BNP ruled the nation this time both parties decided to go solo in the upcoming electionsAnother event that bolstered the BNPâs chances was the return of Tarique Rahman the son of the late Khaleda Zia He drew an impressive crowd and the fact that he returned to Bangladesh has infused fresh life into the cadres of the BNP experts also sayExperts feel that Rahman who filed his nomination papers from two constituencies is the frontrunner to be the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh When he returned from London after a 17year exile it became clear that he would play a big role in Bangladesh politicsRecent opinion polls have shown that the BNP is ahead of the Jamaat and the newly formed National Citizen Party NCP However these polls also indicated that the Jamaat was not far behind the BNP The NCP which was a distant third is expected to be pushed down further owing to the multiple splits within the partyZiaâs death is expected to change much of the situation as the BNP would clearly ride on the sympathy wave The outpouring of grief across the country following her death only shows that she remained a popular leader in the countrySince Bangladesh plunged into crisis after Sheikh Hasina fled the country India has been reaching out to the BNP leadership Both sides have agreed to have cordial ties and share a workable relationship This however has not gone down too well with the ISI which has been rooting for the Jamaat which it controlsOfficials say that the BNP although it has had an antiIndia stance is a workable partner when compared to the Jamaat The BNP has been antiIndia while in power but unlike the Jamaat it has not made any open call to hurt India Rahman who is likely to be the next PM has in the past been accused of being proISI However analysts say that there are signs of change and he too feels that India and Bangladesh should share a workable relationshipIntelligence Bureau officials say that the fastchanging situation in Bangladesh has made the ISI go into overdrive mode It has been reaching out to the BNP leadership as it seeks to control the party The ISI fears that the BNP may not be as easy to manoeuvre when compared to the JamaatIntelligence agencies have learnt that the ISI has been trying to pump money into the BNP so that it shares similar ties with Pakistan like the Jamaat Officials say that the legacy of Khaleda Zia would be used heavily by the BNP during the election campaign There is no doubt that her death would benefit the BNP hugely and this is why the ISI feels that the chances of the Jamaat being in power are gradually vanishingIndian agencies are keeping a close watch on the activities within the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka The ISI cell within the commission has been meddling in the electoral space of the country and is trying to control the results It has now realised that there is a dire need to get the BNP on its side so that any outreach by New Delhi could be blockedExperts say that a lot would depend on Rahman He has indicated that he wants good ties with India but that again depends on whether or not the ISI can break him If he is sensible and wants the country to progress then the best bet for him is to have a workable relationship with India experts also sayOfficials however add that what Rahman would do is hard to tell On his arrival he first dialled Muhammad Yunus and thanked him for facilitating his return His next event is something that would require careful analysis He visited the site when student leader Sharif Osman Hadi was buried and paid homage Hadi was an open India hater and called for the destruction of the country He has also blamed India for every problem that Bangladesh has been facing IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/with-khaleda-zia-gone-bnps-surge-threatens-isis-jamaat-centric-strategy-656259.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/paks-rights-body-concerned-over-arbitrary-detentions-disappearances-of-baloch-women-656260.html Quetta Dec 30 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed grave concern over what it termed a continued pattern of arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances including several recent cases involving Baloch women and girls local media reported on Tuesday In a statement HRCP stated that two students of University of Peshawar Habib Wazir and Adnan Wazir had been missing since November 12 after participating in a governmentconvened jirga and stressed that their alleged abduction demonstrated how due process was routinely bypassed The Balochistan Post reportedThe rights watchdog expressed concern over the alleged disappearance of former lawmaker Nisar Panhwar and his son Mohsin Panhwar who were reportedly taken by men wearing plain clothes in Karachi on December 22 It stated that the case has been reported amid an increase in disappearances of people including women minors and activist Mahjabeen Baloch and at least six others in Balochistan in November and DecemberHRCP stated that such actions breached constitutional guarantees and had caused irreversible harm to families who await information about their loved ones The group said The state must ensure transparency accountability for perpetrators and unconditional access to justiceOn December 22 15yearold student Nasreen Nasreena Baloch was allegedly forcibly disappeared from her residence during a raid conducted during night in Hub ChowkiOn December 20 two women from the same family Hani Dilwash who is eight months pregnant and 17yearold Hair Nisa were allegedly detained during a raid conducted late night in Hub Chowki The whereabouts of the two women remain unknownEarlier on December 1 a woman identified as Farzana Zehri was allegedly detained while returning from a hospital in Khuzdar while another woman Rahima was detained with her brother in Dalbandin and remains missingMeanwhile several Baloch families held a protest in Kech district against the enforced disappearance of four members of the same family by Pakistani forces on December 23 According to the BYC the victims two women and two men identified as Fareed Ijaz Mujahid Dilwash Hani Dilwash and HairNisa Wahid were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani agencies The rights body stated that their families have taken to the streets of Tejaban village in Kech demanding the safe return of their loved onesTheir protest is peaceful yet their voices are being ignored and no clear information has been given about where the missing family members are being held The families say they will not end their protest until all four are safely recovered They are calling on the people of Tejaban and nearby areas to stand with them and speak out against enforced disappearances a practice that has torn apart countless families across Balochistan the BYC posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/paks-rights-body-concerned-over-arbitrary-detentions-disappearances-of-baloch-women-656260.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cia-strikes-dock-allegedly-used-by-drug-traffickers-in-venezuela-us-media-656262.html Washington Dec 30 The CIA carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a dock facility along the coast of Venezuela marking the first known land strike by the Trump administration inside the oilrich South American country according to local media reports The strike targeted a remote dock that US officials believed was being used by a Venezuelan gang to store drugs and transfer them onto boats for shipment CNN reported Monday night local time citing anonymous sources familiar with the operationNo one was present at the site at the time of the strike and there were no casualties reports Xinhua news agency quoting CNNUS President Donald Trump said earlier on Monday that the US knocked out a dock area where alleged drug traffickers loaded the boats up with drugs in Venezuela last weekIf his words were accurate it would be the first known land strike by the Trump administration against the oilrich South American nation reports Xinhua news agencyThere was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs Trump told reporters in Florida So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area its an implementation area thats where they implement and that is no longer aroundHe didnt reveal whether the Pentagon or another US entity carried out the operationVenezuelas government has yet to respondTrump first revealed the strike in an interview with WABC radio on Friday saying that his administration knocked out a big facility allegedly producing illicit drugs in VenezuelaWe just knocked out I dont know if you read or you saw they have a big plant or big facility where they send the you know where the ships come from Two nights ago we knocked that out so we hit them very hard Trump said in the phone interviewFor months the United States has been ramping up its military presence in Caribbean waters near Venezuela as part of what the White House has described as an antinarcoterrorism campaign It has sunk about 30 alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific since September causing more than 100 deathsVenezuela has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin AmericaOn Friday Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States on the basis of mutual respect provided that the United States refrains from interfering in Venezuela IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cia-strikes-dock-allegedly-used-by-drug-traffickers-in-venezuela-us-media-656262.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 16:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/daily-wage-workers-porters-in-pakistan-facing-financial-problems-due-to-torkham-border-closure-656282.html Islamabad Dec 30 Hundreds of dailywage workers and porters in Pakistan are facing financial problems due to the continued closure of the Torkham border as they have lost their parttime jobs local media reported on Monday As the Torkham border remains shut due to tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan the majority of these labourers are looking for jobs in Punjab and Sindh while others have borrowed money from relatives and friends to manage their daily expenses They have even stopped sending children to schools as they do not have money to pay fees the Dawn reported Reportedly some jobless dailywagers and porters have started taking drugs as they are facing mental stressSpeaking to Dawn Mansoor Ali stated that he abandoned his FSc computer science course midway due to poverty and started carrying the luggage of Afghan and Pakistani nationals between the border point and the taxi stand for little moneyThe 24yearold who has been married for only eight months said he was having sleepless nights due to mental stress after losing his job following the border closure He said he has already borrowed money from his relatives to manage the expenses of his familyTorkham Labourers and Porters Association leader Ali Shinwari expressed fear that the young jobless labourers could join proscribed terrorist groups which want to exploit the distressing conditions of such frustrated youth We also fear that some young tribesmen will be employed as drug peddlers as narcotics dealers offer them good wages he saidThe problems for these daily wagers the majority of them unskilled people started in 2016 when Pakistan announced a visa policy for Afghan and Pakistani nationals commuting between Afghanistan and Pakistan via the Torkham borderEarlier in October Pakistan shut all trade routes with Afghanistan after Pakistani forces conducted attacks near the Durand Line In response to Pakistans attacks Afghan forces also carried out attacks After the closure of the trade route Afghanistans Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund urged industrialists and traders to use alternative trade routes instead of Pakistan IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/daily-wage-workers-porters-in-pakistan-facing-financial-problems-due-to-torkham-border-closure-656282.html Tue, 30 Dec 2025 23:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/shaped-by-social-and-class-hierarchies-exploitation-of-women-easy-to-hide-in-pakistan-656136.html Islamabad Dec 29 A research emerging from Pakistan has revealed that the intersectional nature of womens role in care work is difficult to ignore The burden of care and lowpaid labour in Pakistan falls heaviest on women positioned at the margins of social power a report has stated Pakistan is projected to become the worlds third most populous nation in 25 years a figure highlighted at the Dawn Population Summit held earlier in December As the population will increase care needs across Pakistan will also rise including direct personal care and indirect care activities in domestic hospital and community settings research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Meherunissa Hamid wrote in a report in Pakistans leading daily Dawn Despite being necessary care work continues to be considered as a responsibility that naturally belongs to women rather than as skilled labour that needs dignity protection or policy attentionRecently to mark the International Day of Care and Support the International Labour Organisation called for stronger recognition of care work and coordinated action to ensure decent work social protection and equality for all care workers in Pakistan However a darker truth must be addressed Not only is there a disproportionate burden of formal and informal care work on women but it is also borne unequally among women making care work a deeply intersectional issue the Dawn report statedLooking closely at the research emerging from Pakistan the intersectional nature of womenâs role in care work is difficult to ignore The burden of care and lowpaid labour falls heaviest on women positioned at the margins of social power Research from Sargodha shows how women domestic workers stand at the intersections of gender class and minority identity Poor often migrant and sometimes religious minority women keep urban households running yet remain invisible because homebased work shaped by social and class hierarchies makes exploitation easy to hide it addedCovid19 research in Abbottabad showcases how these inequalities exist Women conducted several times more unpaid care work than men reinforcing a gender order where mens paid work relies on womens unrecognised labour Research on nursing identity in hospitals reveal how gender class and professional hierarchy together devalue nurses who are treated as servants stigmatised for night shifts and physical proximity to male patients and disrespected by doctors and patients Lady health workers continue to face insecurity harassment and chronic struggles for recognition and regularisationThese layers of inequality do not compete they compound The women in the Pakistani care workforce for instance are not âjustâ women or âjustâ poor or âjustâ Muslim Christian or Hindu or âjustâ from the village all these identities together shape where they can work how they are spoken to whether they are safe and whether the law protects them Being a woman economically deprived from a âlowâ or stigmatised group and working in the formal or infÂoÂrÂÂmal care system is not four separaÂte proÂblems It is one deÂÂeply entangled coÂÂndition of vulne rability the report detailedInterÂsectionÂaÂlÂiÂÂty simply asks us to be honest about our own hierarchies Who chanÂgÂes the sheets in private homes and hospital wards Who cleans our toilets Who cleans our streets Who walks from house to house with the vaccine carrier Who cares for our parents as they grow older Who cooks washes and cares without it ever being paid or even acknowledged Pakistan cannot build a fairer future without recognising how paid and unpaid care work is organised through layers of inequalities it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/shaped-by-social-and-class-hierarchies-exploitation-of-women-easy-to-hide-in-pakistan-656136.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-former-hm-testifies-in-probe-into-gen-z-protest-deaths-and-destruction-656140.html Kathmandu Dec 29 Nepals former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on Monday told an inquiry commission that he had not issued any order to open fire on protesters during the GenZ protests in early September According to government statistics as many as 77 people lost their lives and public and private property worth more than NPR 84 billion was damaged during the twoday movementLekhak who served as Home Minister in the coalition government led by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli at that time faces allegations of authorising the use of excessive force during the GenZ uprisingThe inquiry commission formed by the current Sushila Karkiled government to investigate the September 8 and 9 incidents during the GenZ movement has already recorded statements from the heads of security agencies and senior administrative officialsAs part of the investigation the commission summoned former Home Minister Lekhak Commission officials have said that they also plan to summon former Prime Minister OliTestifying before the inquiry commission formed to investigate the incidents Lekhak in a written response submitted to the commission claimed that he had not issued any written or verbal order to use force against the protestersNo law grants the Home Minister the authority to issue instructions regarding the use of force he saidLekhak stated that he had instructed the security agencies a day ahead of the GenZ protests to ensure that no casualties would occur and that no situation would arise that could result in the death of any personAccording to him during the meeting of the Central Security Committee held on September 7 no decision was taken to use excessive force I had also instructed the security agencies to remain vigilant against infiltrators Lekhak saidInstead he blamed the infiltration of certain interest groups for hijacking the peaceful GenZ movement and turning the protests violent leading to the deaths of several youths on September 8 He reiterated these claims while speaking to journalists after giving his statement to the commission on MondayDuring the GenZ movement several state institutions â including buildings inside Singha Durbar the main administrative centre of the Nepal government the Supreme Court various government offices police posts across the country the houses of political leaders and properties belonging to several business enterprisesâwere vandalised and set on fire Following the killing of protesters by police on the first day of the movement these properties were targetted on the second dayIt was in fact a deliberate conspiracy It was a planned attack on the nation and on democracy itself Lekhak claimed demanding that those responsible for the destruction be brought to justiceEven as the commission is preparing to record the statement of former Prime Minister Oli he has maintained that he will not testify before the commission claiming that the inquiry body is biasedIn a television interview last week the former Prime Minister said The current Prime Minister and the chairperson Gauri Bahadur Karki of the commission have taken my name stating that suchandsuch should be done to me Why should I give a statement when they have already announced the conclusion IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/nepal-former-hm-testifies-in-probe-into-gen-z-protest-deaths-and-destruction-656140.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/one-person-dies-three-missing-after-boat-sinks-off-greek-island-of-samos-656142.html Athens Dec 29 One person died while three remained missing after a migrant boat sank off the Greek island of Samos on Monday according to the coast guard As many as 26 migrants reached shore in the Petalides area and informed authorities that others were still at sea Euro News reported The boat had capsized early MondayCoast guard vessels a helicopter a private boat and ground teams have started a search and rescue operation Body of a woman was found during the search while search operations continued for other missing peopleGreece has remained a key entry point for migrants and refugees in the European Union since 2015 with over one million arrivals Hundreds of people have died while attempting the sea crossingThe incident comes after several migrant tragedies have been reported in Greek waters recently As many as 28 people were rescued while three others remained missing after boat with irregular migrants from Turkey sank off the Greek island of Samos on December 16 Xinhua News Agency reported citing Greek authoritiesThe Hellenic Coast Guard said that a search and rescue operation was launched to locate the missing ones It further said that winds of up to force five on the Beaufort scale were impacting the areaThe coast guard said that migrants were found near the coastline after their boat crashed into rocks The injured people were taken to a local hospital for treatment while an injured baby in serious condition was airlifted to Athens Xinhua News Agency reported citing local media outlet Samos TodayOn December 8 a 12yearold boy died after being hit by a boat propeller as a smuggler allegedly forced migrants to jump from a speedboat off Samos On December 6 Greek authorities found 17 bodies and rescued two migrants from a vessel off Crete IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/one-person-dies-three-missing-after-boat-sinks-off-greek-island-of-samos-656142.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-jamaats-true-face-drives-ncp-to-the-brink-before-polls-under-isis-shadow--656146.html New Delhi Dec 29 The Muhammad Yunusled interim government in Bangladesh has promised to hold the muchanticipated elections on February 12 The road ahead is not an easy one as political alignments are changing rapidly while the country is also dealing with a wave of violence The National Citizens Party NCP which was formed by the students who led the protest to oust Sheikh Hasina is currently in disarrayThe NCP during its formation was completely aligned towards the JamaateIslami and now many within the party are questioning it While some want to align with the Jamaat ahead of the elections others feel that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP would be a better bet However there is one section which does not want to be a part of both and has decided to contest the elections independentlyBangladesh watchers say that the shift away from the Jamaat is not a sudden one They have realised that with the Jamaat in control it would be as good as giving the country away to Pakistan They are not wrong in their thinking the experts sayThe welcoming of the ISI easing of visa norms and opening of the sea route to Pakistan are seen by many as a dangerous trend They realise that the ISI is looking to make Bangladesh a terror launch pad against IndiaExperts also say that the same students who led the protests against Sheikh Hasina citing anarchy now realise that under the Jamaat the country would be in a worse conditionThe country has been getting negative press for its failing economy welcoming of Pakistan targeting of the minorities and the unending violence These students feel that if the Jamaat is at the helm this would become a new normal in the country There would be very little progress and more attempts would be made to implement the Sharia law and turn the nation into an Islamic stateIn addition to the ideological differences and what the Jamaat would turn the country into there are a few who have political differences The Jamaat had offered the NCP just 30 seats in the 350member Jatiya Sangsad The NCP was always aware that it would be a junior partner with the Jamaat But they had never anticipated that the offer of seats would be this poor They feel that they were used by the Jamaat to fulfil its large goal and that was to throw Hasina out of powerSome experts say that the way in which things are panning out within the NCP the party may cease to exist before the elections are held There are reports daily of internal discord resignations and difficult negotiations There is also opposition to one group wanting to align with the BNPExperts say that the BNP will be careful before it accepts any such offer by a faction of the NCP The BNP is in a comfortable position as of now Moreover it broke its alliance with the Jamaat as it did not want to adhere to a violent ideology The NCP is largely perceived to be proJamaat and the BNP would not want to engage with them The rift within the NCP began following the resignation of Asrhadul Haque a top leader of the party He was upset that the Jamaat was controlling the party and even offered Rs 15 crore Taka to the NCP for each of the constituencies it would fight the elections as an allyMost of the students who led the protest to oust Hasina believed that they needed better leadership However they realised that under a Jamaat leadership no good can happen in Bangladesh and it would just be a puppet of Pakistan where the focus would not be on developmentNCP leaders had initially decided to contest 125 seats but the fact that the Jamaat offered only 30 seats has angered many They questioned some of the NCP leaders for trying to give away too much to the Jamaat when the original part of the plan was to contest the elections aloneTanjuva Jabeen joint convener of the NCP after resigning took to social media and said that she would contest as an independent from Dhaka9 She also said that she is opposed to the alliance with the JamaatBangladesh watchers say that the Jamaat has effectively managed to break the NCP up as it does not want any vote split as it would prefer a direct contest with the BNPThe experts point out that the Jamaat will eventually end up finishing the NCP after the elections or probably sooner IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bdesh-jamaats-true-face-drives-ncp-to-the-brink-before-polls-under-isis-shadow--656146.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 23:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/curtain-of-darkness-how-british-empire-denied-light-of-knowledge-to-further-its-despotism-655987.html New Delhi Dec 28 The British occupation of India was built upon a great lie the assertion that foreign dominion served the welfare and happiness of the inhabitants The East India Company EIC a vast trading corporation that had morphed into a territorial sovereign continually boasted of establishing courts of justice and creating new and valuable property for the natives claiming to have replaced a chaotic precarious past Yet this veneer of benevolence barely concealed a system weighed down by colossal debt maintained through military force and psychological manipulation and structured to systematically drain the resources of the conquered landBy 1813 as the EICâs charter approached its renewal a fierce internal debate raged in Britain should the gates of India be opened to Christian missionaries From the perspective of India this debate exposed the profound hypocrisy at the heart of British rule the administrators who claimed to bring enlightenment and justice actively suppressed the very spiritual and intellectual freedom that the petitioners sought to impartThe question of missionary access was not about faith it was about power control and the inherent fragility of a government that survived because its 60 million subjects remained unaware of the peculiar tenure by which they were ruled by a mere one million BritonsThe Suppressed Voice A Conspiracy of SilenceBefore addressing the explicit petition for Christian propagation one must grasp the absolute control the EIC exercised over all forms of intellectual and political discourse within India The British understood that stability rested on moral influence and in a great degree even by prejudice To maintain this delicate balance they implemented a rigorous system of censorship that rendered the press in India perfectly fetteredThe regulations required that newspapers receive the sanction of the secretary of the government before publication under the penalty of immediate embarkation for Europe The rationale for this draconian measure was openly discussed in Parliament the administration feared publications that could criticize native religion and customs thereby stirring up irritation and hostility Crucially they feared that uncensored information would expose the truth to the people informing natives of the peculiar tenure by which the British government held their powerCritics of the policy such as Sir Thomas Turton articulated the brutal clarity of this despotism Nothing could be more dangerous than freedom of discussion under a government founded upon blood and supported by injustice He noted the absurdity of speaking of press liberty in India where the government was not inferior to that of Tunis or Algiers Another critic Mr Whitbread observed that the ultimate objective was to keep the people of India in darkness as to the nature of their governmentThis climate of intellectual suppressionâa government that had usurped authority and power through conquest by compact and by forfeiture and possibly fraudâcreated the perfect environment to impede any unwelcome ideas including Christianity if those ideas threatened the political status quo The denial of the âlight of the Gospelâ as one observer noted was a move to support a political despotismThe Petition of Scorn Deplorable IgnoranceIt was against this backdrop of political fear and intellectual control that the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge SSPCK submitted its powerful petition to the House of Commons on February 19 1813The petition was twofold in its appeal it sought parliamentary provision in the Charter renewal to allow the Society to impart the benefits of Christianity to the natives of India and simultaneously to afford religious worship and instruction to Scottish members of the Church of Scotland residing in that part of the British empireThe urgency of their mission was justified by a severe moral indictment of the Indian populace The SSPCK noted that the native inhabitants have long been and still continue in a state of deplorable ignorance They further claimed that the people were addicted to various idolatrous and superstitious usages of the most degrading and horrible descriptionThis characterizationâin realityâwas not humanitarian concern but profound colonial arrogance It was an imperial judgment passed upon a civilization that had established complex political systems profound philosophical traditions and thriving industries long before the EIC arrived The accusation of deplorable ignorance was particularly galling coming from a nation whose own control over India rested on keeping the native population ignorant of their political statusThe petitioners also highlighted the impediments faced by Scottish members themselves Although official policy claimed perfect toleration prevailed in India the EICâs licensing system ensured that members of the Church of Scotland who were employed in civil and military departments were precluded from enjoying the ordinances of Christianity agreeably to the forms of the Church to which they are attached This exclusion occurred because the EIC was not in the habit of granting licenses to clergy outside of the established Anglican Church demonstrating that even British subjects were denied religious freedom if they belonged to a nonAnglican denominationThe Irony of Moral SuperiorityThe Scottish Societys zeal to correct Indias idolatrous and superstitious usages stood in sharp contrast to the actual moral landscape created by the British administration itself The records reveal that the EIC governance had produced an increase of crime enormous and widespread depravity1 Justice Denied Despite the Companyâs claims of established justice the judicial system was effectively inaccessible for many Civil justice was virtually denied to suitors due to exorbitant fees and stamped paper requirements sometimes amounting to 50 down to 7 and 6 per cent on the amounts claimed The overall cost of administering justice was even claimed to be higher in British India than in the whole of Europe2 Economic Devastation The system imposed by the British was a systematically engineered process of colonial underdevelopment Exploitative land revenue policies led to agrarian stagnation the growth of absentee landlordism and peasant misery Peasants were forced into debt traps and coerced by high arbitrarily fixed tax rates even when crops failed This deliberate economic destruction was the true deplorable ignorance concerning how to govern justly3 Moral Hypocrisy of War The British policy itself tolerated acts of barbarity that contradicted any claim to moral superiority The execution of the Killedar of Talnier fort after his surrender an act deemed questionable by European standards of justice even in war demonstrated that the British military apparatus could disregard principles of justice and humanity when convenientIn this context the argument that India needed saving from its own religious practices rings hollow The British government while censoring religious tracts that criticized native religion to avoid tumultuous proceedings was simultaneously funding its territorial acquisitions by incurring massive debts totaling around Â26 million by 1813 absorbed largely by military activities The perceived need to protect native customs was merely a tool to safeguard the fragile financial and military basis of their dominationThe TradeOff Commerce Over ConversionThe core issue preventing unrestrained missionary activity was the EICâs commercial monopoly itself which was up for renewal in 1814 The EIC feared that extensive European interaction particularly under the guise of religious instruction would destabilize the lucrative trade especially the vital commerce with ChinaThe policy of restricting religious influence was directly analogous to the EICs attempts to stifle Indias economic potential The use of Indianbuilt ships which utilized Indiaâs great natural advantages like durable teak wood was resisted primarily to protect the British shipbuilding industry and British seamen Preventing the use of Indian ships and sailors was an act of injustice and oppression that denied India the reward of its industryThe EIC argued that unrestricted importation from India would endanger any pledge on their part for the good government of India This meant the continuation of the colonial system military control revenue extraction and commercial privilege was paramount The government wisely thought that it should abstain from openly exerting itself to further Christianity lest they should be represented to the people as attempting to impose upon them a new religionThe resistance was thus purely pragmatic The introduction of Christianity was seen as a potential trigger that could unhinge the whole frame of Indian society a framework painstakingly erected upon military dominance and economic servitudeConclusion The Despots DilemmaThe debate over the impediments to Christian missionary activity in 1813 reveals a government caught in a terrible dilemma of its own making Having gained political and territorial control through means critics described as resting on blood and injustice the East India Company could only maintain its rule by stifling two things the freedom of political expression through the perfectly fettered press and the freedom of religious propagationThe irony is acute The EIC justified its presence by claiming to alleviate the deplorable ignorance of the native population Yet Parliament was told that giving the people access to even simple legal proceedings was dangerous and that spreading Christian light was risky because it might lead to tumultuous proceedingsUltimately the source of the impediment was not the hostility of the native population but the inherent instability of the colonial administration By restricting the clergy and suppressing Christian outreach the British were attempting to prevent any intellectual or moral force from exposing the raw nerve of their dominion They chose political survival over said spiritual outreach military security over so called moral consistency The door to âspiritual and intellectual freedomâ remained closed guarded not by religious conviction but by the overwhelming practical fear of imperial collapseThe Author is a researcher specialising in Indian history and contemporary geopolitical affairs IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/curtain-of-darkness-how-british-empire-denied-light-of-knowledge-to-further-its-despotism-655987.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/elections-in-pak-occupied-gilgit-baltistan-meaningless-until-region-has-own-provisional-constitution-report-655988.html Islamabad Dec 28 Pakistan continues to occupy GilgitBaltistan despite its legal accession to India in 1947 Pakistan is set to hold Assembly elections in the occupied territory of GilgitBaltistan in a few months however the polls would be meaningless until the region has its own provisional constitution and the Assembly has authority to legislate over resources a report has stated Nationalists have demanded reinstatement of state subject rule legislative autonomy and reunification with India to secure cultural survival resource control and democratic selfdetermination Locals have continued to remind Pakistan of the United Nations Security Council resolution which requires the removal of all Pakistani nationals from GilgitBaltistan to resolve the dispute with India Institute for Gilgit Baltistan Studies founder Senge Sering who is based in the US wrote in a report in the International Centre for Peace StudiesThe Pakistani colonial overlords have ignored these warnings and seized local lands appointed their own bureaucracy to hold sham elections to elect representatives on behalf of the residents of this areaThe report in the International Centre for Peace Studies stated Previously the nationalists boycotted elections in GilgitBaltistan because the local electoral commission requires all candidates to sign a vow of allegiance to Pakistan In their defence nationalists contend that since GilgitBaltistan is not legally a part of Pakistan and falls beyond its constitutional ambit forcing local residents to pledge loyalty to a foreign country is not only unethical and unconstitutional but also violative of Islamic principlesThis time however the nationalist coalition has resolved to field candidates in all constituencies They have decided to involve themselves in the process since such sham process in reality empowers Pakistani puppets with the ability to fill the political vacuum control funds and misappropriate true national identity The patrons in the military establishment have traditionally enabled Pakistani political parties such as the Muslim League TehrikiInsaf and Peopleâs Party to dominate electoral politics in the terrain and form local governments which function as springboard for Pakistani Pashtuns Hindkowal and Punjabis to spawn illegal settlements in the occupied territory it addedPakistan did not occupy Gilgit to serve or protect Islam however it used Islam to steal natural resources fuel terrorism and kill indigenous Shias thereby causing damage to land and social fabric After facing deprivation and oppression for 78 years most of the locals have fallen prey to Pakistani machinations They are cutting their own roots without realising that Shia and Sunni settlers of Pakistan have no loyalty towards GilgitBaltistanInstead of depending on Pakistani Shias and Sunnis for survival locals should work together to force Pakistan to honour the UNCIP resolutions and leave Pakistanoccupied Jammu and Kashmir POJK according to the report Nationalists have demanded the reinstatement of the state subject rule SSR in GilgitBaltistanThe upcoming Assembly elections will be meaningless until GilgitBaltistan has its own provisional constitution and the Assembly has authority to legislate over resources and means of production as well as collect transit tolls and taxes the author wrote in the reportIn the report Senge Sering wrote Pakistan would never allow Gilgit residents to control their own territory and exercise legislative autonomy since this would force Islamabad to seek local authorisation to profit from resources and collect revenue on transit to China Islamabad prefers to continue with its policy of demographic engineering and illegal colonies and employ divide and rule techniques to maintain absolute dominance over the region At the same time it encourages Chinese American and European businesses to illegally exploit local resources complicating and weakening stakeholder claims and interests IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/elections-in-pak-occupied-gilgit-baltistan-meaningless-until-region-has-own-provisional-constitution-report-655988.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:17:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-reports-71-blasphemy-linked-attacks-on-hindus-from-june-dec-report-655989.html Dhaka Dec 28 At least 71 incidents related to blasphemy allegations against Hindu minorities were reported in Bangladesh from JuneDecember this year Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities HRCBM said in a report The HRCBM documented cases from more than 30 districts including Chandpur Chattogram Dinajpur Lalmonirhat Sunamganj Khulna Comilla Gazipur Tangail and Sylhet according to the report Rights group said that the spread and similarity of these cases showcase systemic vulnerability of minorities to religiously framed allegations rather than isolated incidentsAccording to the report blasphemy allegations in Bangladesh frequently led to police action mob violence and punishmentOn June 19 Tamal Baidya 22 was arrested in Barishals Agljhara over alleged derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad according to a report in Thailandbased Page 3 NewsAfter three days Shanto Sutradhar 24 faced protests and unrest in Chandpurs Matlab after facing similar allegationsA report in Page 3 News said One of the most violent episodes was reported on July 27 when Ranjan Roy 17 was arrested in Betgari Union Rangpur Following his detention 22 Hindu homes were vandalised highlighting how accusations often escalate beyond the individual to target entire communities Overall the report lists 71 distinct incidents including police arrests and FIRs mob beatings vandalism of Hindu homes suspensions and expulsions from educational institutions and deaths following mob attacks between June 2025 and December 2025It notes that over 90 per cent of the named accused are Hindu including minors as young as 15 to 17 years The HRCBM says many cases stem from alleged Facebook posts which are often disputed fabricated or traced to hacked accounts Other incidents are based on verbal accusations made without forensic verification In several cases arrests were carried out under mob pressure even before any formal investigation it addedA number of complaints were lodged under the Cyber Security Act especially against students Universities and colleges with students such as Pranaya Kundu PUST Bikorno Das Divvya Tonoy Roy Khulna University and Apurbo Pal North South University facing suspension expulsion or police action after allegations of insulting IslamOn December 18 Dipu Chandra Das 30 was beaten to death and his body set on fire by a mob in Bhaluka over allegations of blasphemyA report in Thailandbased Page 3 News stated Human rights observers quoted in the HRCBM report stress that the recurring pattern â social media accusations rapid arrests mob mobilisation and targeting of Hindu localities â suggests blasphemy allegations are increasingly being used as a trigger for persecution intimidation and social exclusion The report concludes that minors and economically vulnerable individuals are disproportionately affected and warns that without accountability and safeguards such accusations will continue to endanger minority communities in BangladeshOn December 19 a leading international human rights organisation condemned the recent series of âhorrific extremistâ violent incidents that occurred across Bangladesh In its statement Justice Makers Bangladesh in France JMBF stated that coordinated attacks at multiple locations on Thursday nights demonstrated that Bangladesh has plunged into a state of extreme insecurity and has gravely failed to fulfill its fundamental responsibilitiesThese attacks targeted the offices of the countryâs leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star the national cultural institution Chhayanaut members of minority communities the remaining structures of the Bangabandhu Museumâan important symbol of the nationâs history and the office of the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram The unrest broke out following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi spokesperson of the radical group Inqilab ManchaAccording to the JMBF the planned vandalism arson and looting of the offices of The Daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star at Karwan Bazar in Dhaka were not merely attacks on two media outlets but constituted a direct assault on freedom of expression the pursuit of truth and independent journalismâThe endangerment of journalistsâ lives and the attempt to rescue them using cranes operated by the Fire Service instead of deploying helicopters exposed a stark and disturbing picture of state negligence The harassment of the President of the Editorsâ Council a senior journalist during the incident further proves that extremist forces are now emboldened to openly suppress democratic voicesâ the rights body statedâOn the same night the attack and stonethrowing at the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram not only reflected a severely deteriorated lawandorder situation but also raised serious questions about the governmentâs irresponsibility and its disregard for international diplomatic norms An attack on a foreign diplomatic mission has gravely damaged Bangladeshâs international image for which the current government bears full responsibilityâ it added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-reports-71-blasphemy-linked-attacks-on-hindus-from-june-dec-report-655989.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:19:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-building-commercially-grounded-relationship-with-africa-report-655992.html New Delhi Dec 28 India is building a commercially grounded relationship with Africa large enough to matter without mortgaging sovereignty according to a report The country is also engaging with Africa in the health sector Furthermore India is contributing to United Nations peacekeeping in AfricaSome actors translate this into dependency through scale or force India stands apart advancing its interests most effectively when African partners retain agency This is not soft power versus hard power but capacity power versus dependency power Africa is not one arena but several shaped by chokepoints Along the Indian Ocean rim from Djibouti down the Swahili Coast to Mozambique and across to Madagascar and Mauritius Africa links to India through sea lanes carrying energy food and trade strategic analyst Shay Gal wrote in a report in The Eurasian TimesIndias ties with Africa are social and diplomatic Over 3 million people of Indian origin live across the continent the legacy of labour routes merchant networks and migration When India supported the African Unions inclusion in the G20 it reinforced that representation is power and Africa is not a guest in global governanceThe Eurasian Times report stated IndiaAfrica trade fluctuates between 80 and 100 billion dollars annually with cumulative Indian investment approaching 75 billion dollars placing Africa among Indiaâs most important economic partners The pattern matters more than the decimal point India is building a commercially grounded relationship large enough to matter without mortgaging sovereignty Indiaâs restraint is not a weakness It allows African states to say yes without losing the ability to say noIndiaâs development finance is often misread because it does not resemble Beijingâs grand packages or heavily conditioned Western programmes Its backbone is concessional finance and project lending with nearly 200 lines of credit extended across more than 40 African states to fund railways transmission vehicles agriculture and industrial capacity This is not charity It links African demand to Indian execution capacity and builds commercial ecosystems without forcing capital into singlevendor dependency The weakness is equally clear dispersed projects demand relentless followthrough and delays quietly erode trust it addedIndia has focused on everyday systems like introducing UPI and RuPay infrastructure in Mauritius and signing digital payment pacts with nations like Namibia and Togo Those who develop the infrastructure of everyday economic existence influence sovereignty more lasting than those who sell drones Mauritius showcases the nature of Indian partnership when influence is developed without a parallel state There are no military bases no concessions over ports or airports no foreignbranded institutions shaping identity Instead Indiaâs presence runs through everyday systems that manage sovereignty India is also engaging with Africa in the health sector as the former supplies over half of the latters generic medicinesIn the report in The Eurasian Times Shay Gal wrote Security is where comparisons sharpen India has long contributed to UN peacekeeping in Africa It has expanded its maritime role from antipiracy operations off the coast of Somalia to trilateral naval exercises with Mozambique and Tanzania as well as coastal radar cooperation with Indian Ocean partners Its security footprint reinforces state capacity and maritime awareness rather than substituting for sovereignty Mozambique and Tanzania show what an Indian security partnership looks like without bases or permanent deploymentsTraining maritime surveillance and joint exercises strengthen local control over coastal space while leaving command symbols and legitimacy firmly national The absence of an Indian security architecture is the point Somaliland already matters in practice even without formal recognition Trade flows through Berbera and Indian goods sustain its port economy In the Gulf of Aden Indiaâs sustained antipiracy deployments help secure the shipping lanes on which Somalilandâs coast depends This is not diplomatic recognition but de facto relevance cooperation through commerce and maritime security where sovereignty is disputed but daily functions are not the author added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-building-commercially-grounded-relationship-with-africa-report-655992.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-zelensky-keep-talks-light-as-ukraine-peace-negotiations-advance-655998.html Washington Dec 29 A mix of humor gestures and casual exchanges marked a highstakes press appearance as US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to project ease and momentum at MaraLago even as negotiations to end the war in Ukraine remained unresolved but close Trump opened the remarks by calling the meeting âterrificâ and said the two sides had âdiscussed a lot of thingsâ adding that talks covered âjust about every subjectâ He said progress toward ending the war had been substantial and described recent outreach to European leaders as part of a coordinated diplomatic pushâWeâve done very wellâ Trump said noting that discussions had moved closer to a possible agreement even though âone or two very thorny issuesâ remainedThroughout the exchange Trump adopted an informal conversational tone frequently pausing to acknowledge aides joke with reporters and comment on the setting He praised the Ukrainian delegation saying Zelenskyâs team âlooks like central castingâ and remarked that it was an honor to host the talks at MaraLagoâIt was an honor to have you at MaraLago and have lunchâ Trump said âI hope you enjoy the foodâZelensky followed with brief remarks thanking Trump and members of his team including Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he described as sustained engagementAs Trump spoke Zelenskyâs reactions occasionally drew attention When Trump referenced what he described as a prior White House meeting where Ukraine âwasnât ready for peaceâ the Ukrainian president looked toward the US press and shruggedZelensky also smiled and chuckled when Trump said it âsounds very strangeâ but that Russia wants to help Ukraine rebuild a remark that briefly lightened the tone of the press conferenceDespite the relaxed moments Trump acknowledged that negotiations remained complex âThe word agreed is too strongâ he said when asked about territorial issues adding that talks were âgetting closer to an agreementâ but not yet finishedTrump said the leaders planned to stay in close contact possibly speaking again as early as the next day depending on developments âWeâre in the processâ he saidAt one point Trump addressed the possibility of visiting Ukraine saying he had âno problemâ with doing so if it would help save lives Zelensky responded warmly interjecting âYou are welcomeâThe US president also spoke at length about his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin describing it as lengthy and substantive He said both sides wanted the war to end and framed the talks as a humanitarian effort âI donât want to see so many people dyingâ Trump saidAs questions continued Trumpâs tone alternated between optimism and caution He said a deal could emerge within weeks if talks progressed smoothly but warned that failure would mean continued fighting âThey keep fighting and they keep dyingâ he said âNo goodâThe informal atmosphere returned as the press conference drew to a close Trump asked reporters whether they had enjoyed lunch and thanked them for attendingWhile exiting Trump joked about Zelenskyâs reaction to the setting âHe walked in He said this place is gorgeousâ Trump said âI donât think he wants to go to the White House anymoreâZelensky replied immediately smiling âIâm ready to go to the White Houseâ prompting laughter in the room Trump responded by praising both venues saying the White House was âa very special placeâ adding âAnd so is thisâTheir first Oval Office meeting was marked by tension and public mistrust Sundayâs exchange suggested a deliberate attempt by both leaders to soften the optics while signaling that talks have entered a decisive phase IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-zelensky-keep-talks-light-as-ukraine-peace-negotiations-advance-655998.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:34:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/progress-on-ukraine-was-possible-but-deal-remained-distant-us-media-656000.html Washington Dec 29 US media did not appear to be convinced of a successful Ukrainian peace following the meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Most outlets said progress was possible but a deal remained distant The Wall Street Journal said the talks at MaraLago brought âfresh optimismâ but no breakthrough It reported that Russia is still pushing for land gains and has rejected a ceasefire The paper noted that Trump struck an upbeat tone but admitted key obstacles remainThe Journal quoted Trump saying âI think both presidents want to make a dealâ It also cited his warning that âthis is not a oneday process dealâ and called the talks âvery complicated stuffâ The report said neither side gave details of what was resolvedThe New York Times took a similar view It reported Trump saying a deal was âmaybe very closeâ while also warning it might not happen The paper said a revised 20point USâUkraine proposal was unfinished It added that Russia rejected several proposals put forward by Kyiv and WashingtonThe Times said Zelensky described the meeting as âa great meetingâ with âa great discussion on all the topicsâ Trump appeared more cautious He suggested Europe would take the lead on security guarantees On the territory and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant the paper said there was little sign of a breakthroughThe Washington Post also struck a careful tone It said Trump and Zelensky sounded hopeful after the talks At the same time it stressed that major hurdles remain The Post reported that the United States would help facilitate RussiaâUkraine talks in January It quoted Trump describing the process as âvery complicated stuffâThe Post added that while both leaders moved closer on a proposal it was unclear whether Russia would accept it The gaps it said are still wideFox News offered a more upbeat framing It reported that the talks could open the way for the first direct call between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in more than five years Citing a source it said such a call would be a âdiplomatic victoryâ for TrumpFox News quoted Trump calling his phone conversation with Putin âgood and very productiveâ He said âI do believe that we have the makings of a dealâ He also warned that if talks fail the war could drag on and cost many livesUS media outlets noted increased diplomatic activity surrounding the TrumpZelenskyy meeting Trump spoke with Putin before seeing Zelenskyy Both leaders also joined a call with European officials European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed progress She stressed the need for âironclad security guaranteesâ for Ukraine IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/progress-on-ukraine-was-possible-but-deal-remained-distant-us-media-656000.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/zelensky-trump-signal-near-deal-on-ending-ukraine-war-656003.html New York Dec 29 Ukraineâs President Volodymyr Zelensky said a peace plan to end the war was â90 per centâ ready while US President Donald Trump asserted they were âgetting a lot closer maybe very closeâ after their meeting to find a path to ending the fouryear conflict Their meeting on Sunday was preceded by massive air strikes by Russia on Ukraine and by Kyiv on Moscowâs oil refinery showing how fragile Trumpâs peace initiative isTrump also introduced a note of caution about the prospects of peace that has eluded his diplomacy telling reporters before their meeting at his MaraLago estate in Florida âItâs possible it doesnât happen and in a few weeks weâll know one way or anotherâThe negotiation would continue all sides agreedZelensky wrote on X that the USUkraine teams would meet âas early as next week to finalise all discussed mattersâ and Trump will hold a meeting with Ukrainian and European leaders in Washington next monthA Kremlin spokesperson Yury Ushakov said that the US would continue its through two working groups one on security issues and the other on economic matters â and their terms will be finalised most likely in early JanuaryâZelensky who came with a 20point peace proposal said on X after their meeting âWe discussed all the aspects of the peace framework and achieved significant results We also discussed the sequence of further actionsââWe agreed that security guarantees are key on the path to achieving a lasting peace and our teams will continue working on all aspectsâ he wroteDuring their meeting Trump and Zelensky held a conference call with European leaders including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of BritainUkraine receives strong support from Western European countries and Canada that are allies of the US applying pressure on TrumpVon der Leyen wrote on social media Bluesky âThere was good progress which we welcomedâEchoing Zelensky she emphasised that âparamountâ to a peace deal is âironclad security guaranteesâIt would include Western European countries providing military support and Ukraine wants the US to underwrite it with a bilateral security agreementUndergirding the guarantee would be Ukraineâs membership in the European UnionTrump endorsed the idea of a guarantee though not the specifics saying âThere will be a security agreement It will be a strong agreement The European nations are very much involved in thatâBefore the meeting with Zelensky Trump spoke more than an hour with Russiaâs President Vladimir Putin who had started the warâHe wants to see it happenâ Trump said about Putinâs attitude to a peace deal adding âI believe himâUshakov said that Putin told Trump âa bold and responsible political decision from Kievâ that aligns with Russiaâs position expressed in the discussions with the USHe also said that Trump told Putin that âthe Ukrainian crisis has been his most formidable foreign policy challengeâDuring his election campaign last year Trump repeatedly said that he would end the Ukraine War within 24 hours of taking office but 11 months later after a summit with Putin several meetings with Zelensky and months of diplomacy conducted through his soninlaw Jared Kushner and his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff the war ragesAfter hectoring Zelensky and appearing to tilt slightly to Russia Trump hardened his stance on Moscow imposing sanctions directly on Russian oil companies Kremlinâs financial lifelines after the failure of the highly promoted summit with Putin in Anchorage in AugustBesides security guarantees for Ukraine short of NATO membership the future of Ukraineâs Donbas region partially occupied by Russia is one of the roadblocks on the way to a dealRussia wants all of the region including those it has not capturedTrump had at one time giving all of it over to Russia but Zelensky has countered it with an offer to make it a demiltarised zonePutin seemed steadfast in getting all of Donbas through military forceUshakov warned âGiven the evolving situation on the front lines it would be in the Ukrainian regimeâs interest to make such a decision regarding Donbass without further delayâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/zelensky-trump-signal-near-deal-on-ending-ukraine-war-656003.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-accuses-ex-first-lady-of-illegally-intervening-in-state-affairs-behind-curtains-656004.html Seoul Dec 29 South Koreas Special counsel Min Joongkis team on Monday accused former first lady Kim Keon Hee of illegally intervening in state affairs behind the curtains as it announced the final results of its investigation The team raised the accusation against Kim the wife of ousted former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in a press briefing a day after its 180day investigation into her corruption allegations officially concludedThe special counsel investigation confirmed the presidents spouse engaged in the modernday sale of public offices something expected to be found in history books and illegally intervened in state affairs behind the curtains out of the publics sight assistant special counsel Kim Hyongkun saidLast week the team additionally indicted Kim on charges of accepting luxury gifts from businesspeople and others in exchange for government positions and political nominationsKim is accused of receiving gifts worth 370 million won 258000 in total including a painting worth 140 million won from a former prosecutor in return for her support for his bid to win the People Power Partys PPP nomination in last years general electionsSince its launch in July Mins team has focused on three key suspicions Kims alleged involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme her alleged acceptance of free opinion polls from a selfproclaimed power broker and her suspected receipt of luxury gifts from the Unification ChurchOver the course of the investigation the team placed 20 people including Kim under custody and indicted dozens more including Kim and her husbandSpecifically Kim is accused of conspiring with a former head of Deutsch Motors a BMW dealer in South Korea as well as a close associate to manipulate the companys stock price and make 810 million won 561000 in illegal profits between 2010 and 2012 Yonhap news agency reportedShe is also accused of receiving free opinion polls worth 270 million won together with her husband from a selfproclaimed power broker ahead of the 2022 presidential electionAssistant special counsel Oh Jeonghee accused Kim of taking a leading role since Yoons entry into politics saying the couple acted together as a political union after Yoons electionKim also faces charges of receiving luxury gifts worth 80 million won from the Unification Church in exchange for business favors in 2022 and of alleged involvement in a scheme to mass recruit Unification Church followers for the PPP ahead of its 2023 leadership race IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-accuses-ex-first-lady-of-illegally-intervening-in-state-affairs-behind-curtains-656004.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:44:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trumps-trade-policies-disaster-us-media-656007.html Los Angeles Dec 29 The Southern California News Group SCNG published an editorial titled 12 billion payout to farmers is a tariffbased disaster saying a bailout announced earlier this month underscored the failure of the Trump administrations trade policies The editorial written by the SCNG Editorial Board opened with a pointed question If President Donald Trumps tariffs and trade wars are so great for the American economy then why does he have to shell out as he did this month 12 billion to farmers adversely affected by tariffs and trade warsThe simple answer is of course that tariffs and the trade wars they lead to are never great for our economy or for that of any other country They are additional taxes as if we needed additional taxes on the American consumer and no one else it said on Sunday The opinion piece branded Trumps calculations on tariffs as fundamentally flawed and his understanding of foreign trade as outdated saying that tariffs no longer play a significant role in raising federal revenue in the era of globalisationIt quoted Jay Shambaugh of the Brookings Institution as warning that Trumps trade war would be disastrous for the US economy as it would hurt consumers damage the countrys most productive firms slow economic growth and undermine US relationships around the worldThe editorial depicted the 12 billion payout to farmers as an unfair measure aimed at papering over problems created by the administration itselfIt questioned the administrations attempt to address an issue rooted in its own trade policies pointing out that much of the money would go to growers of socalled row crops such as soybeans many of which had been sold smoothly to trading partners before Trump launched his trade war Xinhua news agency reported Its not going to help everyone in the already struggling American agricultural sector adversely affected by tariffs Tractor maker John Deere says that tariffs will cost it 600 million in 2025 the editorial addedThe Southern California News Group is an umbrella organisation of local daily newspapers published in the greater Los Angeles area with 11 daily publications covering five counties in the region IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trumps-trade-policies-disaster-us-media-656007.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-oversees-test-launch-of-long-range-strategic-cruise-missiles-656009.html Seoul Dec 29 North Korean leader Kim Jongun has overseen a test launch of longrange strategic cruise missiles calling for the unlimited and sustained development of state nuclear combat forces state media reported on Monday The drill took place Sunday in the Yellow Sea demonstrating the absolute reliability and combat readiness of the Norths strategic counterattack capability according to the Korean Central News Agency KCNAThe strategic cruise missiles flew along the preset flight orbit for 10199 seconds and 10203 seconds to hit a target it saidHe affirmed that the Workers Party of Korea and the DPRK government would as ever devote all their efforts to the unlimited and sustained development of the state nuclear combat force the KCNA reported using the acronym of North Koreas official name the Democratic Peoples Republic of KoreaKim stressed the importance of checking the reliability and rapid response of components of North Koreas nuclear deterrent on a regular basis as Pyongyang is facing various security threats it saidThe South Korean military said it detected the launch of multiple missiles from the Sunan area near Pyongyang at around 8 am the previous day noting that North Korea may conduct additional missile tests at the end of the year Yonhap news agency reportedThe latest missile launch came after Kim inspected the testfiring of new longrange antiair missiles in the East Sea on WednesdayAhead of next years key party congress the Norths leader has ramped up his inspections of militaryrelated sites in an apparent bid to tout the countrys accomplishments in the defence sectorKim inspected an 8700ton nuclearpowered strategic guided missile submarine under construction warning South Koreas plan to build nuclearpowered submarines will be a threat to the Norths security that must be countered the KCNA reported Thursday IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-oversees-test-launch-of-long-range-strategic-cruise-missiles-656009.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 09:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-reports-avian-influenza-outbreak-in-hokkaido-656011.html Tokyo Dec 29 Japans agriculture ministry said on Monday that genetic testing has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a farm in Hokkaido Prefecture marking the 11th bird flu outbreak in the country this season According to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries the outbreak occurred at a poultry farm in Yuni Town Hokkaido leading to the culling of over 6000 egglaying chickensIn accordance with relevant guidelines all chickens at the farm should be culled incinerated and buried Additionally farms within a 3kilometre radius are banned from moving chickens and eggs while others located within a radius of 3 to 10 kilometres cannot transport poultry products outside the areaJapans avian influenza season typically runs from autumn until the following spring The previous 10 outbreaks this season have already led to the culling of nearly 365 million chickens The countrys first case was confirmed in Hokkaido on October 22 Xinhua news agency reportedAccording to the World Health Organization avian influenza also known as bird flu is a type of zoonotic or animal influenza that affects wild birds and poultry and is caused by virus subtypes AH5N1 AH9N2 Avian influenza has occasionally infected humans however it does not easily transmit between humans The majority of human cases of avian influenza have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultrySince it was first reported in Hong Kong in 1997 the disease has been responsible for human outbreaks and deaths in 16 countries in Africa Asia Europe and the Middle East In 2006 avian influenza caused by the highly pathogenic AH5N1 influenza virus spread rapidly through the Eastern Mediterranean Region with large nonhuman outbreaks reported in Afghanistan Djibouti Egypt Iraq Jordan occupied Palestinian territories Pakistan and Sudan Transmission of the AH5N1 influenza virus from infected birds to humans was confirmed in Djibouti Egypt Iraq and Pakistan and Since then avian influenza has become endemic among poultry in EgyptThe incubation period for the AH5N1 ranges from 2 to 5 days on average and up to 17 days Symptoms of infection in humans include fever malaise cough sore throat and muscle aches Severe disease and death may result from a complication of pneumonia The case fatality rate for avian influenza among humans is much higher than that for seasonal influenza infection IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-reports-avian-influenza-outbreak-in-hokkaido-656011.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/16-killed-in-nursing-home-fire-in-indonesia-identification-underway-656016.html Jakarta Dec 29 Indonesian police are conducting identification procedures for 16 people killed in a fire that broke out at a nursing home in Manado the capital of North Sulawesi province local authorities said on Monday The victims bodies are being identified at Bhayangkara Hospital of the North Sulawesi Regional Police Polda Sulut according to Alamsyah P Hasibuan head of public relations of Polda SulutHe said the identification process is aimed at establishing the victims full identities before further coordination with their families reports Xinhua news agencyAccording to him the fire occurred at around 836 pm local time on Sunday at the Panti Werdha Damai nursing home located in Ranomuut Subdistrict Paal Dua District Manado The blaze was extinguished at about 930 pm after three fire engines dispatched by the Manado city government arrived at the sceneFollowing reports of the fire police officers moved quickly to secure the area and assist with rescue operations Survivors were evacuated to Manado City Regional Hospital and Permata Bunda Hospital while the deceased were transferred for further handlingPolice forensic teams have launched an investigation including a crime scene examination and witness interviews to determine the sequence of events and the preliminary cause of the fire Hasibuan saidEarlier on December 22 15 people were killed and 19 others injured early Monday in a bus accident at the intersection of the Krapyak toll exit in Semarang city Central Java province local authorities reportedAccording to the Semarang Search and Rescue Office the passenger bus was reportedly travelling at high speed when the driver lost control causing the vehicle to hit a road barrier and overturnThe evacuation process was quite difficult because some victims were trapped inside the bus and access was obstructed by broken glass said Budiono head of the Semarang Search and Rescue Office Rescue personnel had to enter the overturned bus open access to the victims and evacuate them with extra cautionThe office confirmed that all victims have been successfully evacuated and sent to local hospitals IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/16-killed-in-nursing-home-fire-in-indonesia-identification-underway-656016.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 10:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hanwha-aerospace-wins-order-to-develop-propulsion-system-for-s-korean-lunar-lander-656035.html Seoul Dec 29 Hanwha Aerospace has won a 715 million 1033 billionwon contract to develop the propulsion system for South Koreas firstever lunar lander planned for launch in 2032 the company said on Monday Under the contract with the staterun Korea Aerospace Research Institute Hanwha Aerospace will be responsible for producing assembling and testing key propulsion components including the engine and attitude control thrusters through 2032 Yonhap news agency reportedThe South Korean aerospace and defense giant has developed key spacecraft propulsion systems for the countrys space projects since the launch of the Arirang1 multipurpose satellite in 1994The company said technologies and infrastructure developed through the lunar lander project could later be applied to future space exploration missionsA Hanwha Aerospace official said the company aims to contribute to securing South Koreas independent lunar exploration capabilities by leveraging more than 30 years of experience in the fieldEarlier this month Korea AeroSpace Administration KASA shared plans to launch a lunar communication orbiter in 2029 and a lunar lander in 2032 as part of its longterm space exploration road map Yonhap reportedKASA Administrator Yoon Youngbin said the agency will attempt the 2029 orbiter mission using the countrys homegrown Nuri rocketLast month the country successfully completed the fourth launch of the homegrown space launch vehicle placing 13 satellites into orbitHe explained that securing deepspace communications technology through the lunar communication orbiter will serve as groundwork for the goal of sending an unmanned lunar lander in 2032A lunar communications orbiter is essential for moon missions as communication with Earth from the far side of the moon is not possibleAccording to Youngbin KASA plans to conduct at least one Nuri launch per year through 2032 to raise its success rate to over 90 per cent and develop a reusable nextgeneration launch vehicle by 2035 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hanwha-aerospace-wins-order-to-develop-propulsion-system-for-s-korean-lunar-lander-656035.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/woman-injured-in-stabbing-attack-in-tokyo-suspect-at-large-656038.html Tokyo Dec 29 A woman was stabbed on Monday in Tokyos Shinjuku Ward and the suspect remained at large local media reported The woman was conscious and able to respond to questions after the attack and her condition was stable TBS reported citing the Tokyo Metropolitan Police DepartmentThe incident occurred about 200 meters southwest of JR Takadanobaba Station The attacker was a slim man who fled the scene police said adding they are continuing the search for the suspect and are calling on the public for information reports Xinhua news agencyEarlier on December 26 as many as 15 people were injured after a stabbing spree at a factory in Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan local media reported quoting authoritiesAccording to them an emergency call was received reporting that five or six people had been stabbed at a Yokohama Rubber factory in Mishima Japans leading Kyodo News Agency reportedPolice have arrested Masaki Oyama 38 on suspicion of attempted murder Police also received a call that someone was splashing an unspecified liquid around the factory and are carrying out an investigation into the incidentThe factory makes car tyres and approximately 980 people work there as of 2024 according to its websiteOn December 15 police arrested a 30yearold man for his involvement in one of two stabbings in Japans Fukuoka that caused nonlifethreatening injuries to a woman and a man who was working at the event for the Japanese female idol group HKT48 local media reportedThe suspect Naoya Yamaguchi a resident of Fukuoka Prefectures Itoshima was accused of attempted murder for the attack on the man and has confessed to committing the crimeHe has also indicated his involvement in the attack on the woman according to police Kyodo News reportedThe attacks took place on December 14 at a stadium Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka and a nearby amusement facility Boss EZo Fukuoka where HKT48 has its own theatre for performancesHKT48 is one of the popular AKB48 family of allgirl pop groups and is based in Fukuokas HakataOne of the victims an event worker 44 was stabbed in his chest when he cautioned a man whom the police believe was Yamaguchi while another victim is a 27yearold woman who was visiting for a live event at the stadium and suffered an injury in her back IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/woman-injured-in-stabbing-attack-in-tokyo-suspect-at-large-656038.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 14:33:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/taiwan-condemns-chinas-joint-military-drill-around-island-puts-forces-on-high-alert-656071.html Taipei Dec 29 Taiwanâs Ministry of Defence on Monday strongly condemned Chinas deployment of air navy and rocket troops to conduct joint military drills around the island a move Beijing described as a stern warning against Taiwan Independence separatist forces and external interference The Ministry said that it has placed its forces on high alert and opposed the actions of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army PLA warning that the drills undermine regional peaceThe development comes days after the United States approved a huge arms package worth more than 10 billion for Taiwan Beijing retaliated by asking the US to immediately cease its dangerous act of arming Taiwan where Chinas Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that the move severely undermines Chinas sovereignty security and territorial integrityâWe strongly condemn the PRCâs irrational provocations and oppose the PLAâs actions that undermine regional peace Rapid Response Exercises are underway with forces on high alert to defend the Republic of China and protect our peopleâ Taiwanâs Defence Ministry posted on XAccording to the Ministry of Defence on Monday morning two PLA aircraft sorties nine PLA ships and two government vessels were detected continuing their activities around the Taiwan StraitIt added that the Taiwanese armed forces are closely monitoring and responding using mission aircraft ships and shorebased missile systemsMeanwhile Taiwanâs Foreign Ministry also criticized the Chinese military activity and reaffirmed its solidarity with its armed forces in response to the âprovocationsââWe stand firm with the Ministry of National Defence amp all frontline members of the armed forces responding to the PLA provocations around Taiwan We condemn the CCPs threat to regional amp global peace stability amp prosperity amp will meet it with preparedness alongside our democratic partnersâ the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry posted on XEarlier this month the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry in a statement said âChinaâs unilateral military provocations and suppressive actions threaten Taiwanâs democracy and freedom and the regional status quo of peace and stability They also destabilise the overall situation in the IndoPacificâTaiwan continues to face threats from China which claims the selfruled island as part of its territory under the One China principle and insists on its reunification with Beijing Despite Chinas efforts Taiwan backed by strong public support continues to assert its sovereignty and responds to Chinas incursions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/taiwan-condemns-chinas-joint-military-drill-around-island-puts-forces-on-high-alert-656071.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ukraine-has-become-loss-making-asset-in-americas-geopolitical-portfolio-expert-656095.html New Delhi Dec 29 IANS Among the US President Donald Trumps biggest surprises this year has been Washingtons change of course on Ukraine said one of Russias prominent figures in international relations and political science perhaps reflecting a global majoritarian viewnbspnbspWriting for the RT website of the statecontrolled international news television network formerly known as Russia Today Ivan Timofeev the Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council and member of Valdai Discussion Club also commended Indias resilience in face of US tariff pressurenbspThe Valdai Discussion Club is a nonprofit Russian thinktank and international discussion platformCommenting on the sharp shifts triggered by Trump after his return to the White House in January Timofeev said The US has moved from being Kievs closest political patron to a calculating actor focused squarely on its own interestsnbspUnderscoring the tectonic shift since the last regime he said The rhetoric of Russias unconditional defeat has been discarded in favour of negotiations and compromise If Ukraine has become a lossmaking asset in Americas geopolitical portfolio Trump has signalled then the loss must be recognisednbspWhile admitting that though the shift comprising a series of gestures that shocked many Western observers has not yet resolved the conflict but the door to diplomacy has been left ajar Moscow supports negotiations but does not intend to retreat from its positions he assertedHe began saying that if there were a competition for Breaking the Mould of the Year the US would be the runaway winner in 2025nbspThe international relations expert also mentioned Trumps decision to launch a trade war against more than seventy countries as another dramatic break with past practicenbspWhile China responded with serious countermeasures like retaliatory tariffs and strengthening Beijings negotiating hand by introducing export controls on rareearth metals vital to the US economy while at the same time seeking a negotiated deescalation he saidnbspIndia also refused to bend US tariffs on its purchases of Russian oil barely affected Delhis stance The same is broadly true of Brazil In several cases Washing ton applied tariffs for openly political reasons even where the trade balance was to its advantage he addedCommenting further on the shifting sands within White House Timofeev said that Trumps trade measures increasingly took on the character of sanctions which were on occasions accompanied by military strikes although the White House avoided sliding into a fullscale confrontation with IrannbspHe further pointed to the most unexpected development being deepening estrangement between the US and its traditional allies where Trumps revived talk of buying Greenland part of Denmark was symbolic in that respectnbspHe referred to US VicePresident JD Vances earlier criticism of European democracy and early Decembers new US National Security Strategy that urges Western Europe to return to its civilisational roots warns of the risks of war with Russia and casts Washington less as a belligerent and more as a mediator Even the EU has found itself targeted by American tariffsThe article largely reiterates Moscows current stand amidst its war in UkrainenbspIt also coincided with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskys US visit where he wanted President Trumps backing for a revised 20point peace plannbspIncidentally after more than three hours of talks in Florida neither leader announced any major breakthroughnbspInterestingly Trump spoke over phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his meeting with ZelenskynbspA Kremlin Foreign Policy Aide described the telephonic discussion as a friendly wellwishing and businesslike conversation for an hour and 15 minutes where Putin stressed the need to rely on the understandings reached between the Presidents at the summit in Alaska earlier this year https://dailyworld.in/international/ukraine-has-become-loss-making-asset-in-americas-geopolitical-portfolio-expert-656095.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ians-year-ender-2025-wildfires-cyclones-and-floods-major-disasters-that-impacted-world--656117.html New Delhi Dec 29 Year 2025 was marked by several global disasters as cyclones floods wildfires and plane crashes shook the world From wildfires in the US to earthquakes in Asia a number of disasters impacted millions across the world in 2025 The year began with one of Californias most destructive wildfire incidents Thousands of people were evacuated after wildfires in California devastated large portions of Los Angeles The Palisades Fire near the Topanga Canyon on January 7 turned everything into ash including several lifelong hopes and dreams The blaze spread rapidly into surrounding communities burning more than 14000 acres and destroying thousands of homes and other structures forcing people to evacuate As many as 19 people died while nine firefighters were injured due to wildfires in California according to the official statement released by California Fire A total of 1074 structures were damaged 9414 structures destroyed due to wildfires in CaliforniaAlso in January three people died and nearly 1000 others were impacted due to severe weather conditions caused by Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi in Madagascars Sava region According to the report from the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management Cyclone Dikeledi made landfall in Madagascars Vohemar districtIn February Botswana experienced severe flooding due to torrential rains As many as nine people were killed while over 5000 people including children were displaced due to torrential rains and severe flooding in the nationOver 2000 people died after a powerful earthquake of magnitude 77 struck near Myanmars Mandalay on March 28 resulting in intense shaking that devastated the region and was felt as far away as Bangkok As many as 52000 homes were damaged or destroyed due to the earthquake forcing families into unsafe and overcrowded shelters More than 2600 schools were damaged in Myanmar disrupting learning for thousands of children who were already struggling with conflictrelated displacement A total of 789 hospitals were damaged limiting peoples access to critical healthcare services according to the statement released by United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund UNICEFActing as the first responder India launched Operation Brahma to assist people in Myanmar affected by the earthquake The Indian Army deployed a specialised medical task force to provide urgent humanitarian assistance India also sent relief material to Myanmar including tents blankets sleeping bags food packets hygiene kits generators and essential medicinesHeavy monsoon rains which began in June triggered flash floods across Pakistan These heavy rains raised the water levels of Pakistanâs major rivers including the Ravi Sutlej Indus Jhelum and Chenab making them breach their banks leading to Pakistans Punjab province experiencing its worst flooding in 40 years According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs rains and floods in Pakistan have claimed the lives of over 1000 people this year including 275 children Pakistanâs National Disaster Management Authority NDMA has confirmed that more than 229700 houses 790 bridges and 2811 kilometres of roads were destroyed or damaged due to the floods in the country Furthermore an estimated 22 million hectares of crop land were destroyed while more than 22800 heads of livestock were killed due to floodsA Bangladesh Air Forces fighter jet crashed into the Milestone School and College building in Dhakas Uttara shortly after it took off on July 21 Over 30 people mostly children were killed and several others injured in the tragic accident in the South Asian nation which experienced severe turmoil in 2025 under the interim government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad YunusTwo deadly earthquakes occurred in two different parts of Afghanistan in August claiming the lives of more than 2000 people An earthquake of magnitude 60 struck Afghanistans Kunar province while the second earthquake of magnitude 62 jolted Balkh province Following a series of earthquakes that struck Afghanistan India sent urgent humanitarian assistance to support relief efforts in the region By September 1 India had already dispatched relief material to Afghanistan with 1000 family tents sent to Kabul and 15 tonnes of food materials moved to Kunar from Kabul by the Indian Mission in KabulLate November Cyclone Ditwah unleashed days of relentless floods and landslides in Sri Lanka the impact of which would last for several months to come As of December 12 Sri Lankas Disaster Management Centre DMC reported that 639 people have died while over 200 people remained missing in the island nation due to severe weather conditions caused by Cyclone Ditwah Thousands of houses were damaged and lakhs displaced following the cycloneIn the wake of Cyclone Ditwah which caused severe flooding loss of life and widespread disruption across Sri Lanka India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 to provide urgent search rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief HADR support to the island nation The Indian Government sent relief materials to Sri Lanka which included tents tarpaulins blankets hygiene kits readytoeat food items medicines and surgical equipment and two BHISHM cubes IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ians-year-ender-2025-wildfires-cyclones-and-floods-major-disasters-that-impacted-world--656117.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 17:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/india-delivers6ambulanceswith-modern-medical-equipmentto-afghanistan-656123.html KabulNew Delhi Dec 29 India has delivered a consignment of six ambulances to Afghanistan amid growing healthcare cooperation between the two countries according to a media report The ambulances are equipped with advanced medical equipment and can aid in transporting emergency patients and provide emergency health services Sharafat Zaman Amarkhel the Taliban spokesman for the Health ministry was quoted as saying by Afghan media outlet AMU TVIndiaâs assistance can improve health services especially emergency responses in Afghanistan Amarkhel addedThe consignment is part of a commitment made during highlevel talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi in OctoberDuring the meeting Jaishankar described the gift as â20 ambulances a gesture of goodwillIndia will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunisation and cancer medicines We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are open to doing more the foreign minister had saidEarlier this month Afghanistanâs Minister of Public Health Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali held a meeting with Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda in the national capital and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sectorThe talks focused on boosting health cooperation sharing expertise between medical professionals building the capacity of Afghan health workers and ensuring the supply of quality medicines to Afghanistan Cancer treatment medical visas for Afghan patients and support for health facilities were also discussed Afghanistans Ministry of Public Health posted on social media platform XJalali thanked India for its recent support in the health sector and outlined additional needs to improve Afghanistanâs healthcare systemDuring the meeting Nadda reaffirmed New Delhis commitment to supporting the Afghan people including through the supply of medicines and vaccinesHe confirmed that a CT scan machine along with medicines and vaccines would soon be sent to a childrenâs hospital in KabulNadda added that India would work to ease access to medical treatment for Afghan patients and stood ready to extend further assistanceThe Health Minister noted that India has supplied 327 tonnes of medicines and vaccines to Afghanistan over the past four years Proposals from the Afghan side for a radiotherapy machine and additional medical supplies are also being processed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/india-delivers6ambulanceswith-modern-medical-equipmentto-afghanistan-656123.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 18:27:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/transboundary-drug-trafficking-pakistani-smugglers-exploit-gaps-in-british-oversight-656127.html Islamabad Dec 29 The case of Sidrah Nosheen the 34yearold woman who has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in the United Kingdom for being a part of a gang that smuggled heroin from Pakistan showcases how transboundary drug trafficking has evolved into a systemic threat flourishing on gaps in immigration controls allowing networks to function with a certain level of impunity Nosheen was part of an Organised Crime Group OCG that smuggled heroin from Pakistan to the UK sold it around the country She played an important part in the OCGTransboundary drug trafficking has evolved into a systemic threat thriving on gaps in enforcement and porous immigration controls letting networks operate with a certain level of impunity It is an international enterprise exploiting weaknesses on both ends of the supply chain while societies bear the human and reputational cost Pakistan finds itself repeatedly implicated not because its citizens are inherently culpable but because local facilitators continue to operate unchecked allowing global networks to flourish reported The Express TribuneThe Pakistani daily stated that the case of Nosheen in Bradford Crown Court lays bare the scale and sophistication of these networksHer operation involving Â85 million worth of heroin relied on Pakistani contacts to coordinate shipments while exploiting gaps in British oversight Drugs were concealed in clothing household items and even tools a chilling reminder that the trade adapts to ordinary life using procedural blind spots to avoid detection She is now sentenced to 21 years in prison The problem is not only overseas Pakistans own enforcement apparatus though active in seizures and arrests remains reactive it addedNosheen was due to stand trial at Bradford Crown Court However she changed her plea and admitted conspiracy to supply heroin and conspiracy to import heroin She was sentenced in the court on December 23 In a statement the National Crime Agency NCA Heroin concealed in clothes such as leather jackets was delivered to Nosheens home in Woodside Road Wyke Bradford where she removed it and put it in 1kg deal bagsWhen she was arrested at the property in June 2024 officers discovered her back bedroom had been converted into a heroin processing plant Officers found 85kg of the Class A drug in various bags along with a wallpaper pasting table scales buckets and toolsThe Express Tribune highlighted that leads traced from foreign investigations are often delayed or halted by bureaucracy in Pakistan Cartels use these gaps by using methods faster than authorities can respond Pakistan it said must strengthen intelligenceled operations and take action on decisively on leads found from abroadMiddlemen and facilitators must be dismantled before consignments leave the country Coordination with destination countries should be proactive not ad hoc Simultaneously nations like the UK must tighten customs and postal monitoring to block shipments at multiple points rather than relying on postfactum arrests Pakistan must confront this issue not only for the sake of enforcement but to protect its people and its standing in the world the report mentioned IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/transboundary-drug-trafficking-pakistani-smugglers-exploit-gaps-in-british-oversight-656127.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:07:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/winter-storm-hits-us-snarls-thousands-of-flights-655872.html New York Dec 28 A strong winter storm slammed across the US Northeast and Great Lakes regions from Friday evening to Saturday dumping snow crippling holiday travel and leaving tens of thousands out of power As of 2 pm Eastern Time on Saturday more than 5580 flights within to or out of the United States were delayed and at least 860 were canceled according to flighttracking service FlightAware Xinhua news agency reportedFlight delays and cancellations piled up due to severe weather with three major airports in the New York metropolitan area among the hardest hitThe Federal Aviation Administration estimated that flights to New Yorks John F Kennedy International Airport were delayed by an average of about two hours Saturday morningWinter storm alerts covered areas from New York to Philadelphia with travelers and residents warned to exercise caution from the stormThe powerful storm came ahead of the busiest travel day of the holiday season with 286 million travelers expected to fly on Sunday according to data from the Transportation Security AdministrationAhead of the major winter storm the governors of New York and New Jersey declared a state of emergency urging travelers to monitor weather conditions and road closures and follow safety protocolsIn Michigan more than 30000 homes and businesses were without power Saturday morning as ice weighed on trees and power lines IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/winter-storm-hits-us-snarls-thousands-of-flights-655872.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 08:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-meet-zelensky-today-amid-push-for-ukraine-peace-deal-655873.html Washington Dec 28 US President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida on Sunday as Kyiv presses ahead with a new 20point peace plan aimed at ending Russias nearly fouryear war in Ukraine The White House on Friday local time announced that Trump would meet Zelensky at Palm Beach Florida on Sunday December 28Ahead of the meeting Trump cast himself as the final arbiter of any potential agreement between Ukraine and Russia striking a guarded note on Zelenskys latest proposal He doesnt have anything until I approve it Trump told POLITICO in an interview So well see what hes gotZelensky has said he will bring a revised peace framework to the talks including proposals for a demilitarised zone and discussions on US security guaranteesZelensky on Saturday stopped over in the Canadian city before flying to Florida to meet with US President Donald Trump for talks aimed at ending the Ukraine crisisSpeaking to reporters on Friday ahead of his meeting with Trump the Ukrainian leader said the two sides would try to finalise as much as we can while cautioning that he could not predict whether the meeting would result in a firm agreementEarlier Zelensky expressed optimism writing on X that a lot can be decided before the New YearTrump said he expected the talks with Zelensky to be productive and suggested he was also open to engagement with Moscow I think its going to go good with him I think its going to go good with Vladimir Putin he said adding that he expects to speak with the Russian president soon as much as I wantThe presidents comments underscore the central role Washington is playing in the USmediated peace effort even as Russia has shown little movement from its stated positions Trump said Russias economy was under strain Their economy is in tough shape very tough shape he saidZelensky meanwhile has intensified diplomatic outreach ahead of the Florida meeting He said he had spoken with leaders of NATO Canada Germany Finland Denmark and Estonia to coordinate positions stressing that Ukraine has never been and will never be an obstacle to peaceThe planned meeting follows Zelenskys recent conversations with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Trumps soninlaw Zelensky later described that exchange as a good conversationZelensky told reporters that the 20point plan developed by Ukrainian and US officials is 90 per cent ready He said he intended to discuss how Ukraines allies could guarantee its future security even as Kyiv signals flexibility on longstanding demandsZelensky said Sundays talks would also focus on sensitive issues such as management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and control of Ukraines eastern Donbas region which Moscow claims Ukrainian officials have described the latest peace proposal as an attempt to show flexibility without conceding territory including a demilitarised zone tied to a reciprocal Russian withdrawal from parts of DonetskRussia has given no public indication that it is willing to accept such terms Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Yuri Ushakov a senior foreign policy aide to President Putin had spoken with members of the Trump administration after Moscow received the latest proposals without specifying when the conversation took place IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-meet-zelensky-today-amid-push-for-ukraine-peace-deal-655873.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 08:18:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/myanmar-kicks-off-2025-general-election-five-years-after-civil-war-655877.html Yangon Dec 28 Myanmar kicked off its 2025 multiparty democratic general election with the first phase held on Sunday This comes after five years of the Civil War The general election is scheduled to be held in three phases with the second phase set for January 11 2026 followed by the third phase on January 25The election will cover a total of 692 constituencies across the country About 5000 candidates from 57 political parties are competing for seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw Lower House Amyotha Hluttaw Upper House and State and Region Hluttaws State and Region ParliamentsThe election will produce the elected members of the Union Parliament Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw and State and Region Parliaments the new Union Parliament will then elect a new president who will form a new Union Government reports Xinhua news agencyAccording to the Union Election Commission a total of 21517 polling stations have been set up nationwide for the general electionUnlike previous elections Myanmar has introduced the MixedMember Proportional MMP system and the Myanmar Electronic Voting Machine The MMP system combines FirstPastthePost and Proportional Representation the stateowned daily Global New Light of Myanmar reportedAccording to the Ministry of Information Myanmar citizens living abroad have already cast their advance votes at overseas embassies and consulates Election observation teams from several countries have arrived in Myanmar to observe the pollsMyanmars last general election was held in November 2020Additionally a total of 1183 female parliamentary candidates are running in the general election according to the countrys Information Team of National Defence and Security CouncilThe number of women candidates has increased compared to previous elections with 908 in 2020 and 799 in 2015 the information team had said in NovemberThe increase in female participation is due to the adoption of the proportional representation system which has encouraged more women to enter politics according to U Khin Maung Oo a member of the Union Election Commission IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/myanmar-kicks-off-2025-general-election-five-years-after-civil-war-655877.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 09:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-logs-most-public-appearances-in-nine-years-in-2025-655885.html Seoul Dec 28 North Korean leader Kim Jongun made the most public appearances in nine years in 2025 as he increased diplomatic engagement and onsite supervision of the implementation of a fiveyear national development plan data showed on Sunday Kims public appearances as reported by North Koreas state media totalled 118 as of the end of November according to data from the Korea Institute for National UnificationIncluding additional public activities reported by state media between December 1 and 27 the total number rose to 131This years total marks a slight increase from last years 127 and matches the previous high recorded in 2016According to the institute Kims public activities have been steadily rising since hitting a low of 55 in 2020 amid the COVID19 pandemicThis years result came as Kim sought to broaden his diplomatic landscape including making his multilateral diplomatic debut and to step up implementation of the countrys fiveyear development plan which concludes this year reports Yonhap news agencyOf this years public activities till December 27 30 involved public ceremonies 23 onsite inspections and 21 militaryrelated eventsKim in particular made frequent public appearances related to his signature Regional Development 20 X 10 Policy visiting construction sites and launch ceremonies for regional factories hospitals and other facilities built under the policyKims militaryrelated public activities recorded at 21 this year mark a decline from last years 31Notable among Kims public appearances this year was his headlinegrabbing debut on the international diplomatic stage in September when he attended a largescale Chinese military parade in Beijing alongside other state leadersKim also held five rounds of summit talks this year meeting and speaking by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and holding summit talks also with Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as the leaders of Laos and VietnamAdditionally he publicly met highlevel foreign officials and emissaries on a total of 10 occasions including Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Russias Security Council Secretary Sergei ShoiguThe data showed that Jo Yongwon a party secretary in charge of organisational matters most frequently accompanied Kim on public appearances doing so on 22 occasions followed by Pak Jongchon vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers Party of Korea on 19 occasions and Defence Minister No Kwangchol on 11 occasions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-logs-most-public-appearances-in-nine-years-in-2025-655885.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japans-record-defence-budget-plan-sparks-public-concern-655886.html Tokyo Dec 28 The Japanese government has recently approved a draft budget for fiscal 2026 with defence spending set at about 904 trillion yen about 58 billion US dollars marking a new record high and sparking public concern An editorial published on Saturday local time by Japans Shimbun Akahata noted that the countrys defence budget stood at 54 trillion yen in fiscal 2022 and has surged by 36 trillion yen in just four years reports Xinhua news agencyThe newspaper said the latest figure is comparable to the 35 trillion yen allocated for measures to address the declining birthrate and the 38 trillion yen earmarked for nursing care payments in the budget proposal warning that rising military spending will inevitably squeeze livelihoodrelated expenditures which makes it a budget of military prosperity at the expense of peoples livelihoodsThe Ryukyu Shimpo said in an editorial on Saturday that the armament plans reflected in the new fiscal years defence budget seriously deviate from Japans exclusively defenceoriented policy and will aggravate military tensionsAtsushi Koketsu professor emeritus at Yamaguchi University told Xinhua that the budget proposal is deeply disappointing as it fails to give sufficient consideration to peoples livelihood and stability while significantly increasing defence spendingFor decades Japan capped its annual defence budget at around 1 per cent of GDP roughly 5 trillion yen reflecting its postwar pacifist stance under the warrenouncing Constitution But the government despite widespread opposition set a goal in 2022 of raising total defence outlays to about 43 trillion yen from fiscal 2023 through 2027 and hiking defencerelated spending to 2 per cent of GDP by fiscal 2027Since fiscal 2023 Japans annual defence budget has successively exceeded 6 trillion yen 7 trillion yen 8 trillion yen and 9 trillion yen 1 Japanese yen equals about 0006 USD IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japans-record-defence-budget-plan-sparks-public-concern-655886.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 10:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/un-command-says-military-boundary-between-two-koreas-under-its-authority-655887.html Seoul Dec 28 The Americanled United Nations Command UNC has said a Military Demarcation Line MDL marking the boundary between the two Koreas has been under its authority in an apparent objection to an internal revision by South Koreas military over land border rules to prevent accidental clashes with North Korea The UNC said in a statement to Yonhap News Agency The United Nations Command reaffirms its commitment to maintaining the Armistice Agreement including the MDL and to supporting measures that prevent escalation and promote stability within the Demilitarised Zone DMZThe statement came when asked how the UNC assessed the South Korean militarys envisioned revision of border rules after the Korean military reportedly refined the MDL markers in order to reduce discrepancies between the two sidesThe Military Demarcation Line was established and depicted in Map Volume I of the Korean Armistice Agreement on July 27 1953 following a series of armistice negotiations the UNC saidLast week South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had ordered troops to prioritise markers that indicate the MDL when making decisions while also comprehensively applying the South Korean military map and a line connecting MDL markers set out by the UNC when they are difficult to discernCritics say the move favours North Korean troops by allowing the military to use a line drawn farther south when determining whether a border crossing has occurredOn Seouls recent proposal for military talks with Pyongyang the UNC stressed that military dialogue related to the MDL should be conducted under the auspices of the command as stipulated in the armistice agreementSouth Korea proposed holding military talks with North Korea last month to clarify the military demarcation line as the number of North Korean soldiers crossing the MDL while working near the border has surged in recent monthsThe statement by the UNC came after it issued a rare stance earlier this month objecting to a bill proposed by ruling party lawmakers that calls for granting the South Korean government control of nonmilitary access to the DMZSince 1953 UNC has been the successful administrator of the Demilitarised Zone DMZ a role that has been essential in maintaining stability especially amid periods of heightened interKorean tensions the UNC said in the statementThe UNC also specifically cited Article 1 of the armistice agreement that stated the responsibility of the UNC chief doubling as the commander of the US Forces Korea and the jurisdiction that grants control of access to the UNC Military Armistice Commission IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/un-command-says-military-boundary-between-two-koreas-under-its-authority-655887.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-police-arrest-man-following-fatal-stabbing-in-sydney-655888.html Sydney Dec 28 Police in the Australian state of New South Wales NSW arrested a 47yearold man on Sunday after a woman was found dead and another man was stabbed in Sydneys northwest NSW police said in a statement that emergency services were called to a home just before 500 am local time in Quakers Hill a suburb about 40 km northwest of the Sydney central business district after reports of a disturbanceUpon arrival officers found a man on the footpath suffering stab wounds and a woman deceased inside the home The woman was yet to be formally identified reports Xinhua news agencyThe injured man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene and then taken to a hospital in a critical conditionAt around 530 am the 47yearold man was arrested after attending a police stationEarlier in November five teenagers were charged after a worker at a western Sydney convenience store was stabbed according to the police in the Australian state of New South Wales NSWThe 28yearold male worker was allegedly stabbed around 220 am local time on November 20 when he tried to stop a group of teenagers who allegedly attempted to steal items from the store in Burwood 10 km west of central SydneyThe worker was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics before being taken to the hospital He remained in hospital in a critical but stable condition as of Friday according to the policeNSW Police said that all five teenagers have been arrestedAll five were refused bail and expected to make an initial appearance before a childrens court on Friday IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/australian-police-arrest-man-following-fatal-stabbing-in-sydney-655888.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 11:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-lee-set-to-spend-first-official-day-at-cheong-wa-dae-after-relocation-655902.html Seoul Dec 28 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will mark his first official day at Cheong Wa Dae early this week after the presidential office was relocated back to the former presidential compound in central Seoul officials said Sunday Lee will begin work at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday with the symbolic presidential flag bearing two phoenixes to be raised at the compound early Monday morning the presidential office said Yonhap News Agency reportedIt marks the first time the presidential office has moved back to Cheong Wa Dae since former President Yoon Suk Yeol relocated it to the defence ministry compound in May 2022The official name of the presidential office will also revert to Cheong Wa Dae while Lees main workspace will be located in the Yeomin building complex instead of the main presidential buildingThe Yeomin building complex houses the offices of presidential staff and Lees presence there is expected to facilitate closer communications with officialsThe main building known for its iconic blue roof and located about 500 meters from the office complex will mainly be used for formal occasions such as summits and credential ceremoniesOn Friday Lee Jae Myung paid his respects to the sacrifices of fallen officers in the line of duty as he met their familiesLee held a luncheon meeting with families of police officers firefighters Coast Guard personnel and others who died while protecting the public during disasters and emergenciesâIâve often heard that it is hard to find a country as safe as ours anywhere in the world and thatâs thanks to the sweat and hard work of so many public officialsâ Lee said âIt is because of the noble dedication of those who rushed into raging flames and rough surging waves that people are able to enjoy peaceful daily livesâLee said sacrifices made while protecting peoples lives and safety must be met with proper respect and compensation calling it the governments responsibilityâOur government will uphold the principle of providing special compensation for special sacrificesâ he said âI will make a country where dedication to the people is returned with price and honor to repay your sacrificesâ IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-lee-set-to-spend-first-official-day-at-cheong-wa-dae-after-relocation-655902.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 13:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-ignores-its-own-report-to-okay-129-bn-loan-for-pakistan-655910.html New Delhi Dec 28 The International Monetary Fundâs Executive Board has paradoxically approved another 129 billion as financial support for Pakistan despite the multilateral institutions own report highlighting the corruption in the debtridden country which is coming in the way of repaying these loans The IMF has just released a 186page Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment that paints a grim portrait of Pakistanâs institutional decayThe timing is striking the diagnostic was published just before the Board meeting that approved the latest disbursement In effect the IMF has acknowledged that Pakistanâs governance vulnerabilities are systemic yet continues to lend without dismantling the ecosystem of capture that perpetuates the crisis according to an article by Dr Sakariya Kareem in the UKbased Asian Lite newspaperThe report is an institutional autopsy Corruption the IMF concludes is macrocritical embedded in the very structure of the state and economy It determines who prospers why growth remains anaemic and why Pakistan returns to the Fund every few years with its hand outThe evidence is damning In fiscal year 2024â25 alone actual expenditure overshot the approved budget by Pakistani Rs 94 trillion five times the previous yearâs overrun These deviations were not debated in the Parliament beforehand they were regularised after the fact through supplementary grants presented as fait accompli This pattern is not new Ministries spend knowing they will be bailed out the Finance Ministry accommodates them to avoid political backlash and the Parliament rubberstamps overruns that can exceed 10 per cent of the original budget the article points outThe Public Sector Development Programme PSDP meant to channel resources into growthenhancing infrastructure has become a graveyard of unfinished projects The IMF notes a large overhang of ongoing projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs 107 trillion Annual allocations hover around Rs 11 trillion meaning even without new projects it would take nearly a decade to clear the backlog Chronic delays cost escalations and substandard execution are the predictable result of a system without transparent criteria for project selection or prioritisationAnticorruption advocates argue that the IMF must live up to its promises by integrating anticorruption measures into its lending procedures When corruption is deemed macrocritical as in Pakistan the Fund should condition disbursements on verifiable governance reforms Without such accountability IMF support risks perpetuating the very vulnerabilities it diagnoses the article observesUltimately the IMF cannot clean Pakistanâs house These are tasks only Pakistanâs institutions can perform If corruption continues to eat away at public resources the gains from IMF support will not last The money will come reserves will rise but public confidence and economic strength will remain weak Each loan becomes a temporary reprieve not a path to sustainable growth the article statesIt points out that IMF conditionality requires countries to increase fiscal transparency which should have increased the likelihood that corrupt leaders will be called out on their misdealing But that doesnât appear to be happening in Pakistan which receives billions in IMF support even as the Fund itself warns that corruption poses existential risks to its economic futureUnless governance reforms move from paper to practice IMF lending will remain a revolving door for Pakistan stabilising crises without ever resolving them the article adds IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-ignores-its-own-report-to-okay-129-bn-loan-for-pakistan-655910.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 13:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/how-pakistan-govt-is-letting-down-its-people-655934.html New Delhi Dec 28 The Pakistan government has been repeatedly betraying public trust with its myopic and ad hoc approach in policy formulation laments an article in the countryâs Friday Times newspaper This chronic pattern of policy formulation in panic is highlighted by the confusion in Pakistanâs CNG and solar policies which have left consumers in the lurch and investors losing massive amounts of money the article statesBesides it states âThe policy on sugar and wheat so frequently looks like a joke where vested interests are favoured at the expense of consumers The fact is that our overall public policymaking desperately needs to become more propeople and intelligent truly incorporating social and environmental risks and collateral lossesâIn 1992 the government adopted a policy whereby it decided to promote the use of CNG in road transport vehicles The policy was shaped by several challenges including a shortage of foreign exchange as ever with the oil import bill consuming as much as 25 per cent of earnings from exports and the Persian Gulf crisis of 199091 which caused disruptions in oil supplies and a steep rise in international oil prices the article statesThe new policy sought to ensure that the adoption of CNG would substitute costly oil imports with local gas reserves thereby saving critical foreign exchange The government introduced all kinds of tax subsidies and duty waivers for CNG plants equipment and CNG conversion kits for vehicles plus the price of CNG for vehicles was kept 4060 per cent lower than petrol The adoption of CNG in the transport sector was massive as people invested billions of rupees to switch their vehicles to CNG So much so that by 2004 Pakistan topped the world in natural gasrun vehiclesâThen around 2010 our policymakers woke up to the harsh reality that the countryâs natural gas reserves were depleting alarmingly fast due to CNG use Leaving aside the ideals of âgreen fuelâ and âfuel sovereigntyâ so eagerly pursued in 1992 the government decided to prioritise the use of natural gas for industrial and residential consumers With taxes and duty waivers retracted and prices hiked CNG for vehicles became expensive Consequently hundreds of thousands of people with CNG plants and vehicles lost billions of rupees of their investmentsâ the article statesAlmost similar is the story of government policy on the adoption of solar energy The real policy thrust for solarisation came in 2015 when the country was going through the worst electricity shortages and a chronic foreign exchange shortfall to run power plants on fossil fuels Taxes and duties were aggressively reduced on solar power equipment Besides the government also offered to buy back electricity from solar users at 27 rupees per unit In 2022 the government further reduced the GST on solar panels by 17 per centLong tormented by high electricity prices from the national grid and frequent power outages hundreds of thousands of households small industrial units and traders rapidly adopted solar power This adoption of solar power was so huge and so fast that by 2024 Pakistan became the top importer of solar panels in the world bringing in around 17 gigawatts of new capacity By 2025 solar power will generate as much as 25 per cent of monthly electricity generationThis scale of solar adoption was perhaps not imagined by the policymakers The thoughtless solar policy suddenly became detrimental to stateowned power generation The independent power plants that the government had encouraged over the last decade on âtakeorpayâ contracts whether plants were running or idle accrued as much as 2 trillion rupees in annual capacity charges Power distribution companies also reported losses worth billions of rupeesConsequently the government is now not only reducing the solar electricity buyback price from 26 rupees to 10 per unit but also removing the oneforone unit offsetting formula between solar and grid electricity There are other disincentives too such as licensing requirements and reduced electricity buyback contract durations being introduced in the name of rationalising a policy that reeked of myopia to begin with the article added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/how-pakistan-govt-is-letting-down-its-people-655934.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 16:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-groups-lawyers-express-concern-over-enforced-disappearances-of-baloch-women-655946.html Quetta Dec 28 Rights groups activists lawyers and student organisations have expressed concern over rising cases of enforced disappearances of Baloch women warning that cases reported in recent months showcase a troubling phase in the human rights crisis of Pakistans Balochistan a report has stated The Baloch Students Organisation BSO Azad termed rising enforced disappearances of Baloch women by Pakistani agencies as the most brutal form of Baloch genocide adding that the silence of international human rights groups was deeply alarming The Balochistan Post reportedIn its statement BSO Azad said that the violation of Baloch traditions the sexual violence against women and the forced abduction of women as a form of collective punishment were intolerable The organisation stressed that women faced torture fabricated charges and public humiliation through media trials while elderly and ill women were being thrown into torture cellsThe group termed the disappearance of Baloch women a deliberate effort to intimidate people silence activists and suppress resistance It warned that Pakistan wanted to normalise abuses against Baloch women to avoid scrutiny and urged international institutions to hold the state accountable and called on people of Balochistan to adopt strong resistance to ensure that women can live a safe and dignified life free from oppression and violenceThe Makran High Court Bar Association termed what it called the abductionstyle arrests of Baloch women as the worst atrocity in history warning that Balochistan was passing through the most delicate phase in its history The Bar Association stated women were being disappeared after young men were primarily targeted for years terming the pattern a violation of human rights and a violation of the ConstitutionBaloch Yakjehti Committee BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch stated that new cases of enforced disappearances were being reported in which women were taken from their homes in front of their families without warrants and without any charges adding that what was once unimaginable has now become normalisedBaloch stated that enforced disappearances of underage girls pregnant women and young mothers demonstrated that no one is safe anymore in the face of state violence She stated that cases of enforced disappearances showcased a systematic way to terrorise society silence dissent and punish families She urged people to raise their voices and support efforts demanding the safe recovery of Baloch womenThe Human Rights Council of Balochistan HRCB expressed concern over what it termed as rising cases of enforced disappearances of Baloch women In its statement HRCB stated that cases of enforced disappearances showcased a dangerous expansion of a practice that had already become normalised through years of disappearances and extrajudicial killings of Baloch men The group stated that actions violated Pakistans constitution and the countrys obligations under international human rights treaties and demanded the recovery of all disappeared women and an end to enforced disappearanceOn Tuesday several Baloch families held a protest in Kech district against the enforced disappearance of four members of the same family by Pakistani forces According to the BYC the victims two women and two men identified as Fareed Ijaz Mujahid Dilwash Hani Dilwash and HairNisa Wahid were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani agencies The rights body stated that their families have taken to the streets of Tejaban village in Kech demanding the safe return of their loved onesTheir protest is peaceful yet their voices are being ignored and no clear information has been given about where the missing family members are being held The families say they will not end their protest until all four are safely recovered They are calling on the people of Tejaban and nearby areas to stand with them and speak out against enforced disappearances a practice that has torn apart countless families across Balochistan the BYC posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-rights-groups-lawyers-express-concern-over-enforced-disappearances-of-baloch-women-655946.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:08:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-police-arrest-eight-for-drug-production-smuggling-655950.html Kabul Dec 28 Afghan police have arrested eight individuals on charges of production and smuggling of narcotics in the northern Jawzjan province local media outlet Tolo News reported on Sunday According to the report provincial police conducted targeted operations that led to the arrest of the suspects and the seizure of a significant quantity of illicit drugs including hashish and heroin The drugs were reportedly discovered at locations linked to the detained individualsThe arrests are part of ongoing efforts by Afghan authorities to combat illegal production trafficking and distribution of narcotics across the country Xinhua News Agency reportedOn December 21 provincial police headquarters stated that Afghan counternarcotics police have destroyed a drug processing laboratory and arrested one suspect in connection with the case in the eastern Laghman provinceActing on a tipoff police carried out an operation in Mehtarlam district on December 20 where they uncovered a drug processing facility A large quantity of materials and equipment used for heroin production was seized and destroyed at the site the statement saidOn November 14 provincial police spokesman Nizamudin Omir said that Afghan police have arrested a suspected drug smuggler and confiscated illicit narcotics during an operation in the northern Takhar provinceAccording to the official the suspect was detained while attempting to transport crystal methamphetamine and other chemicals used in heroin production to Taluqan the provincial capital where he allegedly planned to sell the materialsThe suspect has been placed in custody for further investigation the spokesman addedAfghanistan has intensified counternarcotics measures in recent years launching targeted operations against trafficking networks clandestine laboratories and illegal marketsOn November 9 provincial police spokesman Gul Mohammad Qudrat said that Afghan counternarcotics forces had confiscated 170 kg of opium poppy and apprehended two suspected smugglers in the western Nimroz provinceThe seizure took place during a targeted operation in the Zanjer Sharqi area along the ZaranjDelaram highway the official said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-police-arrest-eight-for-drug-production-smuggling-655950.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 17:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-jamaat-e-islamis-attempts-to-rebrand-itself-an-eyewash-655963.html New Delhi Dec 28 The forced ouster of the Sheikh Hasinaled Bangladesh government last year created conditions that allowed radical fundamentalist and Islamist forces to rear their heads pushing the nation towards instability and chaos Bangladesh JamaateIslami BJI a radical outfit has since worked aggressively towards its political resurgence attempting to project itself as a moderate and inclusive party while rebranding its image through antifascist rhetoric However Jamaatâs claims and proposals have only exposed its dark underbelly bringing to light its open support for radical elements and criminal groups alongside deepseated hostility towards minoritiesToday Bangladesh under the interim regime of Muhammad Yunus stands at a crossroads with citizens confronted by a stark choice between moderate voices and radical forces Despite Yunusâ repeated advocacy of peace and harmony the countryâs political trajectory continues to tilt towards Islamic radicalism with mainstream discourse increasingly marred by bigotry and vitriol elements that form the ideological core of Bangladesh JamaateIslamiWhile Jamaat has sought to shed its hardline image and present itself as a âprouprisingâ force such efforts remain an eyewash The radical outfit has been unable to abandon its violent legacy and continues to foster what observers describe as an âenvironment of hatredâ against the countryâs minoritiesThe party has also attempted to position itself as an âantifascistâ and âprouprisingâ force by equating the sacrifices of 1971 with those of 2024 while projecting the latter as Bangladeshâs âsecond and true independenceâHowever JamaateIslamiâs commitment to Shariabased governance and its disregard for constitutional or manmade laws remain well documentedâJamaat has been a strong proponent of Islamic governance over electoral outcomes and has repeatedly stated that the state would be run on the basis of Islam if Jamaat secures an electoral majority as the current constitution and laws are manmadeâ said a report by International Science for Peace Studies a research centre focused on South and West AsiaOver the past year Bangladeshâs political upheaval has coincided with a resurgence of Jamaat and a pronounced shift towards Islamic rhetoric in mainstream politicsâThe country has been witnessing increasing mob violence driven by the rise of Islamist radicalism If Jamaat gains political strength it is likely to further Islamicise Bangladeshâs political landscape and legitimise such violenceâ the report saidNotably Bangladeshâs national elections have been announced for February 12 next year the first since the fall of the Sheikh Hasinaled government With the Awami League barred from electoral participation the Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP Bangladesh JamaateIslami BJI and the National Citizenâs Party NCP remain the principal contendersWhile the BNP is expected to contest the elections on its own JamaateIslami has entered into an electoral arrangement with seven âlikemindedâ parties for the polls IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-jamaat-e-islamis-attempts-to-rebrand-itself-an-eyewash-655963.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 19:20:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/security-analysts-concerned-as-convicted-militants-in-bdesh-remain-at-large-report-655976.html Dhaka Dec 28 Six convicted militants who escaped from prison during the JulyAugust 2024 upheaval remain at large while 18 firearms looted from damaged prisons have not been found yet At the same time nearly 200 inmates held on charges related to militancy have been released on bail during the past eight months with no latest information about their whereabouts a report said citing official sources A report in Times of Bangladesh stated These developments have raised renewed concerns among security analysts despite repeated assurances from senior government officials and law enforcement agencies that militancy has no presence in Bangladesh Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated on multiple occasions that there is no scope for militancy in the countrySimilarly Additional Inspector General Md Rezaul Karim who took charge of the AntiTerrorism Unit ATU in late September said there was no militant activity in Bangladesh Over the past one and a half years no major antimilitancy operations have been publicly reported by the ATU or by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime CTTC unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police DMP it addedAn explosion at the Ummul Qura International Madrasa in Hasnabad on the outskirts of Dhaka on Friday pointed out to militant threats After the explosion the madrasaâs director Sheikh Al Amin 32 went into hiding According to police Amin faces several cases over alleged connection to the banned militant outfit New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh New JMB Previously he has been arrested several times and had served prison sentences as per the reportSpeaking to Times of Bangladesh President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies BIPSS ANM Muniruzzaman said that the militancy problem in Bangladesh had not been resolved and the challenge had become more complexHe said many militants who escaped from the prison have not been arrested again and a number of looted weapons had not been found Muniruzzaman a retired major general said that law and order in Bangladesh had further worsened since August 5 2024 and emphasised the need to address gaps in security managementA report in Times of Bangladesh stated According to data from the courts and the Prison Directorate 346 inmates were released on bail in a short period following 5 August 2024 This group includes 12 toplisted criminals eight convicts in the highprofile tentruck arms haul case and members of at least ten different organisations In the first eight months following the political transition 148 members of the banned Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh JMB were released on bail in cases filed over alleged militant involvementPolice say those released include individuals previously listed as members of outlawed extremist groups such as HarkatulJihadalIslami Ansarullah Bangla Team Jamaâatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya Ansar Al Islam Imam Mahmudâs Kafela Hizb utTahrir Hamza Brigade the KukiChin National Front KNF and Allahâr Dal One notable case involves Jasim Uddin Rahmani who was convicted and sentenced to five yearsâ imprisonment in the murder of blogger Rajib Haider and was accused of leading Ansarullah Bangla Team He was released on bail after 5 August and later claimed that Ansarullah Bangla Team had never existed it addedAccording to Assistant Inspector General Development of Prisons Md Jannatul Farhad 17 of Bangladeshs 68 prisons were damaged during the JulyâAugust 2024 mass protests As many as 2232 inmates escaped from five prisons during the unrest including 88 prisoners sentenced to death according to a report in Times of BangladeshAmong those who continue to remain unaccounted for are over 700 inmates including six convicted militants sentenced to death or long prison terms A total of 85 firearms were looted during the prison attacks while the largest escape took place at Narsingdi prison where 826 inmates fled IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/security-analysts-concerned-as-convicted-militants-in-bdesh-remain-at-large-report-655976.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 21:01:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/canadian-pm-announces-new-support-for-ukraine-in-meeting-with-zelensky-655871.html Ottawa Dec 28 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced new financial support for Ukraine during a meeting with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky According to a news release from the prime ministers official website the commitment of 25 billion Canadian dollars 183 billion US dollars for Ukraine includes financing that will enable the International Monetary Fund to lend to Ukraine as well as other debt service suspension and loan guarantee programs Xinhua news agency reportedCarney and Zelensky held a bilateral meeting in the Canadian city of Halifax to discuss the latest developments in ongoing peace talksCarney affirmed Canadas full support for Ukraine They also participated in a call with European leaders to advance joint efforts for Ukraines security and recovery added the releaseCanada has committed new support to Ukraine not only to help end this war but also to help the Ukrainian people recover and rebuild said CarneyZelensky on Saturday stopped over in the Canadian city before flying to Florida to meet with US President Donald Trump for talks aimed at ending the Ukraine crisisAccording to local media Zelensky is set to discuss a 20point peace plan with Trump likely at Trumps MaraLago estate in Palm Beach Florida on Sunday Carney and Zelensky held a bilateral meeting to discuss the latest developments in ongoing peace talks and Carney affirmed Canadas full support for Ukraine according to a statement on the official website of the prime ministerIn the coming days much can be accomplished both bilaterally between Ukraine and the United States as well as with our Coalition of the Willing partners Zelensky was quoted as saying by CBC NewsIt is critical that we jointly and constructively bolster Ukraines ability to protect life reinforce our frontline positions and enhance the effectiveness of the negotiation process Right now it is Russia that is dragging its feet and trying to waste time he saidZelenskys Canadian visit came after he spoke with Carney by phone on FridayAccording to a readout of the call from the prime ministers official website Carney commended Zelensky for his continued efforts to secure a just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine and the courage of the Ukrainian people as they face another winter of Russian aggression IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/canadian-pm-announces-new-support-for-ukraine-in-meeting-with-zelensky-655871.html Sun, 28 Dec 2025 08:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/hundreds-of-flights-delayed-canceled-at-us-san-francisco-international-airport-655812.html San Francisco Dec 27 Hundreds of flights at US San Francisco International Airport were delayed and canceled due to strong winds and the temporary closure of the departures lobby at Terminal 1 According to aircraft tracking website FlightAware 432 flights were delayed most of them arrivals and 26 flights were canceled on Friday Xinhua news agency reportedThe Federal Aviation Administration said arriving flights were experiencing average delays of one hour and 44 minutes because of weather conditions and high windsSeparately the departures lobby at Terminal 1 was closed for more than an hour on Friday morning due to what airport officials described as police activity and it reopened at around 1045 am local timeLocal media reported that Terminal 1 had been evacuated at around 8 am local time after San Francisco police discovered a suspicious package No additional information was providedâThere is still heavy roadway congestion so give yourself extra time getting to the Airport and consider dropping off at the International Terminal and taking AirTrainâ the airport saidDeparting passengers using Terminal 1 who do not have luggage to check can be dropped off at other terminals and use less congested security checkpoints which can access all gates via walkways IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/hundreds-of-flights-delayed-canceled-at-us-san-francisco-international-airport-655812.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 07:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/zelensky-says-willing-to-bring-peace-plan-for-referendum-if-russia-agrees-to-60-day-ceasefire-report-655814.html Washington Dec 27 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is willing to bring a peace plan to end the Ukraine crisis for a referendum if Russia agrees to a ceasefire of at least 60 days according to US media outlet Axios In a phone interview with Axios on Friday Zelensky said he would still like to negotiate a better position on territory But if the plan demands a very difficult decision on that issue he believes the best path forward will be to put the entire 20point plan to a referendum Xinhua news agency reportedHe said a 60day ceasefire to arrange and hold the vote is the minimum as such a plebiscite would have major political logistical and security complicationsA senior US official told Axios that the Russians understand the need for a ceasefire if Zelensky calls a referendum but want a shorter timetableZelensky said he hopes to agree with US President Donald Trump on a framework for ending the crisis when they meet in the US state of Florida on SundayHe said most aspects of the bilateral USUkraine agreements are now set and have been codified into five documents though a sixth may be addedOn the duration of security guarantees after peace is restored in Ukraine the US administration has proposed a 15year pact that could be renewed I think we need more than 15 years Zelensky told AxiosBoth the United States and Ukraine would bring the security guarantees before their legislatures for ratification Zelensky addedZelensky Trump and a group of European leaders are expected to hold a conference call on Saturday to get everyone up to speed on the talks the report said citing a Ukrainian official IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/zelensky-says-willing-to-bring-peace-plan-for-referendum-if-russia-agrees-to-60-day-ceasefire-report-655814.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 08:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/thailand-cambodia-ceasefire-talks-start-655818.html Chanthaburi Dec 27 Ceasefire talks between Thailand and Cambodia began at around 940 am local time on Saturday at a border checkpoint in Thailands Chanthaburi Province If an agreement is reached the two sides are expected to sign a ceasefire declaration at noon according to media reports Xinhua news agency reportedOn Friday Cambodian Defence Ministrys Undersecretary of State and spokesperson Lt Gen Maly Socheata said that Thai F16 fighter jets dropped as many as 40 bombs in a border village in Banteay Meanchey provinceShe said in a press briefing that the bombardment destroyed civilian houses as well as public infrastructures in Chok Chey villageThe Thai military also fired artillery shells into a civilian residential area in Poipet Municipality of Banteay Meanchey province she addedEarlier on December 25 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had urged the full implementation of the Peace Accords amid ongoing violence between Cambodia and ThailandDuring a phone conversation with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet Secretary Rubio reaffirmed that the United States stands ready to facilitate discussions aimed at ensuring peace and stability between Cambodia and Thailand said State Department spokesperson Tommy PigottRubio had stressed the importance of both countries fully implementing the Kuala Lumpur Peace AccordsThe recent clashes along the ThailandCambodia border stemming from longstanding territorial disputes dating back to the colonial era reignited in late May following military confrontations in border regionsOn Thursday Thailands military announced that border negotiations with Cambodia entered the second day with overall clashes along the frontier showing a downward trendAround 30 Cambodian delegates attended the meeting while Malaysian members of the ASEAN observer team in Thailand also presentedIn a press briefing held on Thursday a Thai military spokesperson stated that the intensity of border skirmishes between the two countries has generally decreased with exchanges of fire remaining confined to localised areas IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/thailand-cambodia-ceasefire-talks-start-655818.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:51:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/over-25-injured-after-mob-attacks-music-concert-in-bangladesh-655819.html Dhaka Dec 27 A concert by popular Bangladeshi singer James was cancelled in Faridpur around 120 kilometres from Dhaka following an attack at the venue injuring over 25 people local media reported This comes amid the growing concerns over assaults on artists performers and cultural institutions across BangladeshAccording to local reports the concert was scheduled to begin at around 9 pm on Friday as part of celebrations marking the anniversary of a local schoolTrouble erupted when a group of attackers attempted to force their way into the venue and allegedly pelted bricks and stones at the audienceLocal residents said students present at the venue tried to resist the attackers but the situation escalated prompting local authorities to order the cancellation of the programme in the interest of safety reports leading Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily StarThe incident drew sharp reactions from exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen who highlighted the episode as part of a disturbing trend unfolding in the countryIn a post on social media platform X she wrote âThe cultural centre Chhayanaut has been burned to ashes Udichi the organisation that was built to foster a secular and progressive consciousness through the promotion of music theatre dance recitation and folk culture has also been burned to ashes Today jihadists did not allow the renowned singer James to perform at an eventâNasreen also referred to earlier instances involving visiting artists stating âA few days ago Siraj Ali Khan came to Dhaka He is the grandson of Ali Akbar Khan the son of the worldfamous maestro Ustad Allauddin Khan Siraj Ali Khan himself is a distinguished artist of the Maihar gharanaââHe returned to India without performing any program in Dhaka saying that he would not come to Bangladesh again until artists music and cultural institutions are safeâ she saidThe writer further added âTwo days ago Ustad Rashid Khanâs son Arman Khan also declined Dhakaâs invitation He too made it clear that he does not wish to set foot in a Bangladesh inhabited by musichating jihadistsâJames a highly popular Bangladeshi singersongwriter guitarist and composer is also known for his work as a playback singer He is the lead singer songwriter and guitarist of the rock band âNagar Baulâ and enjoys a massive following in BangladeshBeyond his work in the Bangladeshi music scene James has also sung several hit Hindi film songs including âBheegi Bheegiâ from the film âGangsterâ and âAlvidaâ from âLife In A MetroâObservers say the disruption of a concert by an artist of Jamesâ stature reflects how emboldened radical elements have become in Bangladesh in recent timesOver the past months cultural institutions such as Chhayanaut and Udichi along with artists journalists and newspaper offices have come under repeated attack as hardline Islamic radical mobs have increasingly taken to the streets often with little visible intervention from the stateThe Muhammad Yunusled interim government has faced criticism for failing to rein in violent mobs with critics alleging that incidents of arson and targeted attacks are being allowed or even orchestrated to create a lawandorder crisisAccording to these critics the worsening situation could be used as a pretext to delay elections currently scheduled for February IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/over-25-injured-after-mob-attacks-music-concert-in-bangladesh-655819.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-group-seeks-action-against-online-threats-amid-h1-b-visa-debate-655822.html Washington Dec 27 An Indian American advocacy group warned this week that online posts targeting the community could lead to realworld harm as it urged social media platforms and law enforcement agencies to intervene before tensions escalate The Indian American Advocacy Council IAAC said in a series of public statements that recent online rhetoric crossed the line from political debate into incitement putting members of the community at riskâThis is not âpoliticsâ or âedgy speechââ the group said in a statement posted on social media âIt is incitement and it puts real people at riskâThe group called on the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to review the public activity of an individual it accused of promoting violence including examining any possible coordination funding sources or networks that may be amplifying threats The council also urged the social media platform X to remove content that advocates violence and to suspend repeat offendersâThreats against an ethnic community are not acceptable Not online Not anywhereâ the group saidThe warning followed a spike in online exchanges tied to debates over US immigration policy particularly the H1B visa program which allows American companies to hire foreign workers in speciality occupations Critics of the program have long argued it undercuts US workers while supporters say it is essential for filling highskilled jobsRajeev Sharma a founding member associated with the advocacy council said what began as a policy discussion had taken a troubling turnHe wrote that he was âdeeply unsettled and frustratedâ by what he described as the distortion of a legitimate debate into âsomething much more sinisterâ characterising the rhetoric as dehumanising and at times genocidal in toneOther users aligned with the council echoed those concerns praising Americans who pushed back publicly and calling on X to enforce its rules against violent threatsIn a separate message the advocacy council thanked people who spoke out in defence of Indian AmericansâWe want to thank EVERY AMERICAN who stood up for Indians in the USâ the group said âGenocidal rhetoric has no place in AmericaâAlongside its public condemnation of online threats the council also circulated a draft charter to its members outlining its mission and longterm goals The document described as a âprospective IAAC Charterâ was presented as a statement of identity and purposeâThis document is designed to communicate who we are and what we stand for to a broader audienceâ the message said urging supporters to share it within their networksâThe founding members Sid Rajeev and myself are energised every day and weâre deeply grateful for your support and momentumâ the message added âThis is just the beginningâAs debates over immigration and economic policy continue ahead of the 2026 election cycle advocacy groups say they are watching closely for rhetoric that moves beyond disagreement and into language they view as dangerousFor the Indian American Advocacy Council the message this week was blunt policy arguments are legitimate but calls for harm are notIn his post Rajeev Sharma a cofounder associated with IAAC framed the broader dispute as a shift from a policy debate into something more hostileHe wrote that he was âdeeply unsettled and frustratedâ by the âbastardisation of what started as a legitimate debateâ around âwhatever little abuse in H1B policyâ into âsomething much more sinisterâ describing it as a âproxy surge of dehumanisation and genocidalâ rhetoricAnother supporter Sidharth praised those who spoke out and pressed X to suspend Matt Forney writing âIt is HIGH TIMEâ the platform actsForney who has drawn criticism in recent months for antiIndian commentary triggered a fresh backlash this week after a Christmas Day post that was later deleted according to multiple media reports IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-american-group-seeks-action-against-online-threats-amid-h1-b-visa-debate-655822.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:55:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-meet-zelensky-tomorrow-amid-push-for-ukraine-peace-deal-655825.html Washington Dec 27 US President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida on Sunday as Kyiv presses ahead with a new 20point peace plan aimed at ending Russias nearly fouryear war in Ukraine The White House on Friday local time announced that Trump would meet Zelensky at Palm Beach Florida on Sunday December 28Ahead of the meeting Trump cast himself as the final arbiter of any potential agreement between Ukraine and Russia striking a guarded note on Zelenskys latest proposal He doesnt have anything until I approve it Trump told POLITICO in an interview So well see what hes gotZelensky has said he will bring a revised peace framework to the talks including proposals for a demilitarised zone and discussions on US security guaranteesSpeaking to reporters on Friday ahead of his meeting with Trump the Ukrainian leader said the two sides would try to finalise as much as we can while cautioning that he could not predict whether the meeting would result in a firm agreementEarlier in the day Zelensky expressed optimism writing on X that a lot can be decided before the New YearTrump said he expected the talks with Zelensky to be productive and suggested he was also open to engagement with Moscow I think its going to go good with him I think its going to go good with Vladimir Putin he said adding that he expects to speak with the Russian president soon as much as I wantThe presidents comments underscore the central role Washington is playing in the USmediated peace effort even as Russia has shown little movement from its stated positions Trump said Russias economy was under strain Their economy is in tough shape very tough shape he saidZelensky meanwhile has intensified diplomatic outreach ahead of the Florida meeting He said he had spoken with leaders of NATO Canada Germany Finland Denmark and Estonia to coordinate positions stressing that Ukraine has never been and will never be an obstacle to peaceThe planned meeting follows Zelenskys recent conversations with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner Trumps soninlaw Zelensky later described that exchange as a good conversationZelensky told reporters that the 20point plan developed by Ukrainian and US officials is 90 per cent ready He said he intended to discuss how Ukraines allies could guarantee its future security even as Kyiv signals flexibility on longstanding demandsTrump also confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would visit him this weekend I have Zelensky and I have Bibi coming Theyre all coming They all come Trump said They respect our country againAccording to reports Netanyahu is expected to brief Trump on Israels concerns over the growing threat from IranDuring the interview Trump also addressed recent US airstrikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria saying he personally delayed the operation by a day for symbolic reasons They were going to do it earlier he said And I said No lets give a Christmas presentâ They didnt think that was coming but we hit them hard Every camp got decimatedZelensky said Sundays talks would also focus on sensitive issues such as management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and control of Ukraines eastern Donbas region which Moscow claims Ukrainian officials have described the latest peace proposal as an attempt to show flexibility without conceding territory including a demilitarised zone tied to a reciprocal Russian withdrawal from parts of DonetskRussia has given no public indication that it is willing to accept such terms Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Yuri Ushakov a senior foreign policy aide to President Putin had spoken with members of the Trump administration after Moscow received the latest proposals without specifying when the conversation took placeEarlier this week Zelensky said Ukraine was no longer pursuing immediate NATO membership but was seeking security guarantees that would mirror NATOs Article 5 He also reiterated that Ukraines constitution requires any border changes to be approved by referendum stressing that the fate of Ukraine should be decided by the people of UkraineThe renewed diplomatic push comes as Canada reaffirmed its backing for Kyiv On December 26 Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with Zelenskyy commending his efforts to secure a just and lasting peace and emphasising the need to maintain pressure on Russia according to a statement from Ottawa IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-to-meet-zelensky-tomorrow-amid-push-for-ukraine-peace-deal-655825.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 10:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/mouse-births-pups-after-returning-from-space-mission-in-china-paving-way-for-future-research-655836.html Beijing Dec 27 Of the four mice involved in a recent mission aboard Chinas space station one female has now successfully birthed healthy offspring on Earth the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization CSU of the Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS said on Saturday The four mice two male and two female were sent into space aboard the Shenzhou21 crewed spaceship on October 31 and were housed in a specialised habitat on the space station before returning to Earth on November 14 Xinhua news agency reportedAfter their return one female conceived and later delivered nine pups on December 10 Six of the newborns have survived a rate considered normal Researchers have noted that the mother is nursing normally and the pups appear active and healthyThis mission showed that shortterm space travel did not impair the reproductive capability of the mouse said Wang Hongmei a researcher at the Institute of Zoology of the CASIt also provides invaluable samples for the investigation of how the space environment influences early developmental stages in mammals Hongmei addedThe rodents were transported to Chinas space station to be raised in orbit for five to seven days marking the countrys first scientific experiments involving mammalian models in spaceAs a key model animal in the field of life sciences the mice feature several advantages high genetic similarity to humans small body size and short reproductive cycle and a high amenability to genetic modification said Huang Kun an expert from the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization of the Chinese Academy of Sciences CASThese traits make them ideal for studying physiological and pathological processes as well as the growth development and reproduction of living organisms in space he saidThe project jointly led by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics and the Institute of Zoology both under the CAS involved continuous multidimensional video monitoring of the mice throughout their stay in orbitThe lighting inside the mice experiment facility turned on at 7 am and off at 7 pm maintaining the same circadian rhythm as on Earth explained Li Tianda an associate researcher at the Institute of ZoologyThe rodent food was not only nutritionally balanced but also made it relatively hard to reduce crumbs and meet the mices teethgrinding habit A directional air flow within the facility is designed to blow hair faeces and other garbage into a collection container ensuring a clean and hygienic environment for the mice Li saidBy collecting preliminary data on stress responses and adaptation mechanisms in microgravity the scientists aimed to use these observations to decode how weightlessness and enclosed space influence mices behavioursAfter completing their orbital mission the mice astronauts returned to Earth aboard the Shenzhou20 spaceship for further analysisPrevious animal experiments conducted in the Chinese space lab involved zebra fish and fruit flies IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/mouse-births-pups-after-returning-from-space-mission-in-china-paving-way-for-future-research-655836.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:22:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-supreme-court-confirms-ex-nct-member-taeils-35-year-term-in-sexual-assault-case-655837.html Seoul Dec 27 The South Koreas Supreme Court has finalised a prison sentence of 3 5 years for Taeil a former member of the popular Kpop boy band NCT for sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman legal officials said Saturday The court on Friday upheld a lower courts ruling that found the 31yearold singer and two accomplices identified only as his friends guilty of a special quasirape charge dismissing their final appeal the officials saidThe charge applies when two or more people assault a victim who is unable to resist due to unconsciousness or other factorsThey were also ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and were barred from working at organisations related to children and adolescents and the disabledThe three men were indicted without detention in March on charges of sexually assaulting a foreign woman in Seoul in June last year The victim was reportedly a tourist who was intoxicated at the time of the incidentDuring the initial trial in July the Seoul Central District Court ordered Taeils immediate detention citing the gravity of the offenceProsecutors had originally sought a sevenyear prison term for the singer Yonhap news agency reportedTaeil debuted in 2016 as a member of NCT a globally popular act managed by Kpop powerhouse SM Entertainment However his career came to an abrupt halt in August 2024 when police launched an investigation into the allegationsSM promptly expelled him from the group releasing a statement acknowledging the severity of the matterIn July a district judge in Seoul had described the crime as extremely grave but handed them just half the sevenyear sentence requested by prosecutors noting they were first time offendersSouth Korean law describes this specific kind of rape as aggravated because it was a group attack and a quasi rape as the victim was unconscious IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-supreme-court-confirms-ex-nct-member-taeils-35-year-term-in-sexual-assault-case-655837.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/fta-with-india-means-more-jobs-exports-higher-incomes-new-zealand-pm-655840.html New Delhi Dec 27 A Free Trade Agreement FTA with India will add more employment exports and raise incomes said New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday He said this as India and New Zealand concluded a comprehensive and longawaited FTA marking a major economic and strategic milestoneâWe said weâd secure a Free Trade Agreement with India in our first term and weâve deliveredâ Luxon said in a post on social media platform XâThis landmark deal means more jobs higher incomes and more exports by opening the door to 14 billion Indian consumersâ he addedThe negotiations were formally launched on March 16âFixing the Basics Building the Futureâ Luxon said while welcoming the deal that was concluded in nine monthsEarlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hailed the IndiaNew Zealand FTA as a historic milestoneAn important moment for IndiaNew Zealand relations with a strong push to bilateral trade and investment My friend PM Christopher Luxon and I had a very good conversation a short while ago following the conclusion of the landmark IndiaNew Zealand Free Trade Agreement he wrote on XThe FTA eliminates duty on 100 per cent of Indian exports along with a 20 billion investment commitment over 15 years to strengthen longterm economic and strategic cooperationIt enhances market access to Indias labourintensive sectors including textiles apparel leather footwear marine products gems and jewellery handicrafts engineering goods and automobiles directly supporting Indian workers artisans women youth and MSMEs and integrating them deeper into global value chains according to the commerce ministryMeanwhile India has secured commitments across a wide range of highvalue sectors including IT and ITenabled services professional services education financial services tourism construction and other business services opening up substantial new opportunities for Indian service suppliers and highskill employment according to the Commerce Ministry IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/fta-with-india-means-more-jobs-exports-higher-incomes-new-zealand-pm-655840.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/intelligence-flags-shift-in-khalistan-focus-to-australia-as-heat-rises-in-canada-uk-655842.html New Delhi Dec 27 Intelligence agencies have flagged the rapid rise of the Khalistan movement in Australia even as a marginal crackdown has been taking place in Canada and the United Kingdom Security agencies say that activities in Canada and the United Kingdom are slowing down considerably but there has been a steep rise in Australia in recent months The Khalistani elements have been diverting a lot of their resources to Australia and recent incidents of violence are a clear indication of thatIn the past referendums have been conducted in Australia but the scale of the activity has risen considerably in recent months There has been a rise in vandalism and scribbling of antiIndia graffiti in Australia which has raised major concernsEven the social media campaigns that are carried out by groups such as the Sikhs for Justice SFJ are largely focused on events in Australia Officials say that there are repeated calls on social media to indulge in vandalism whereby Indians are targetedCalls have also been given to raise antiIndia and antiModi slogans and these are taking place very often these days An official said that this ploy of diverting focus to Australia is intentionalIndia has reached out to both Canada and the UK and raised the problem regarding Khalistanrelated activity Both countries have acknowledged the problem and have agreed to work closely with New DelhiIn recent months some action against Khalistanis has been visible in both these countries Hence the attention was diverted to AustraliaâThis allows the movement to continue unabated while also reducing the heat in the UK and Canada the official saidKhalistanrelated activity has been visible openly in Australia in the months of July August and December this year These elements have been waving Khalistan flags while raising antiIndia slogans They have also indulged in vandalism which has angered the Indian diasporaDuring these incidents the Khalistanis have trampled the Indian flag and raised antiIndia slogans In December during a protest the Indian flag was torn and videos of the same were circulated in large numbers Such videos are posted very often by the SFJ to incite people Unlike in Canada and the UK the Khalistanis are now facing resistance from the Indian diasporaThe Khalistan Zindabad slogans have been countered by Indians with chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai Officials say that such acts are carried out with the sole intention of provoking the Indian diasporaDuring a protest in August on Independence Day the Khalistanis attempted to provoke the Indians and they were met with resistance However it was the quick intervention by the Australian police that averted a street clash Had this taken place it would have gone as per the script written by the proKhalistan elementsIn July these elements vandalised a Gurdwara in Melbourne with antiIndia graffiti They even pasted images of Hitler while comparing it to the Indian leadershipOfficials say that Australia is also a target owing to the large number of Indians living there There are around 800000 Indians who are currently in Australia and they form an important part of the population These Indians now find themselves in the crossfire as the locals tend to blame all Indians for such incidentsIn Australia like the UK and Canada the Khalistanis have taken advantage of the huge emphasis that is given to free speech The Khalistanis have managed to get away with protests and hate slogans under the garb of free speechOfficials say that the Australian government has to be stern and stricter when it comes to these elements Things could spiral out of control very soon and then the problem becomes much harder to solveAustralian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said We uphold free expression but draw firm lines at violence or incitement and continue engaging with Indian counterparts on these matters IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/intelligence-flags-shift-in-khalistan-focus-to-australia-as-heat-rises-in-canada-uk-655842.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-diplomat-says-ukraine-proposed-radically-different-peace-plan-655845.html Moscow Dec 27 The potential crisis resolution plan that Kyiv is reportedly proposing differs significantly from the one that Moscow and Washington are working on a Russian official said The settlement was approaching but the negotiation process is being hindered by the setting of deadlines and attempts to torpedo it said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on the 60 Minutes programmeI believe Dec 25 2025 will remain in our memory as a milestone when we truly approached a solution but whether we can make the final push and reach an agreement depends on the political will of the other side the Russian diplomat notedCommenting on remarks by US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker about ending the conflict within 90 days Ryabkov said setting specific deadlines does not contribute to a peaceful settlementA breakthrough in the negotiations must be achieved under conditions where Kyiv and its sponsors particularly within the European Union who are not focused on reaching an agreement have redoubled their efforts to torpedo it he saidUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he is willing to bring a peace plan to end the Ukraine crisis for a referendum if Russia agrees to a ceasefire of at least 60 days according to US media outlet AxiosIn a phone interview with Axios on Friday Zelensky said he would still like to negotiate a better position on territory But if the plan demands a very difficult decision on that issue he believes the best path forward will be to put the entire 20point plan to a referendum Xinhua news agency reportedMeanwhile US President Donald Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Florida on Sunday as Kyiv presses ahead with a new 20point peace plan aimed at ending Russias nearly fouryear war in UkraineThe White House on Friday local time announced that Trump would meet Zelensky at Palm Beach Florida on Sunday December 28Ahead of the meeting Trump cast himself as the final arbiter of any potential agreement between Ukraine and Russia striking a guarded note on Zelenskys latest proposalHe doesnt have anything until I approve it Trump told POLITICO in an interviewSo well see what hes got IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-diplomat-says-ukraine-proposed-radically-different-peace-plan-655845.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 12:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelan-president-maduro-expresses-willingness-to-hold-dialogue-with-us-655858.html Caracas Dec 27 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has expressed willingness to hold dialogue with the United States on the basis of mutual respect provided that the United States gives up interference in Venezuela In a televised speech on Friday local time Maduro said that if the US side is willing to engage in dialogue with Venezuela on the basis of mutual respect and abandon its failed attempts to interfere in Venezuela over the past 25 years he will welcome it and seek a path toward peace cooperation and prosperityThe president also criticised the United States for its sustained smear campaigns against the Venezuelan government its destabilising efforts in Venezuela and its attempts to overthrow the leadership reports Xinhua news agencyHe called on the US media to report the real situation of Venezuela after truly understanding the countryFor months the United States has deployed largescale air and naval forces in Caribbean waters near Venezuela under the guise of combating socalled narcoterrorismIt has sunk about 30 socalled drug trafficking ships in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific causing more than 100 deathsEarlier this week the White House ordered the US military to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a quarantine of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two monthsWhile military options still exist the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking a US official saidThe efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the belief is that by late January Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the US said the official speaking on condition of anonymityBella I the third oil tanker pursued by US forces has turned away from its route to Venezuela to load cargo and retreated into the Atlantic Ocean according to US media reportsUS President Donald Trump ordered a full and total blockade of all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela last week announcing Maduros government as a USdesignated foreign terrorist organisationVenezuela has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin America condemning the interception of oil tankers as piracyAsked if the goal was to force Maduro from power Trump told reporters on Monday that it would be smart for Maduro to step down If he plays tough itll be the last time hes ever able to play tough he addedThe UN Security Council on Tuesday held an emergency meeting on the situation in Venezuela at which the overwhelming majority of Security Council members called for respect for the UN Charter and restraint to avoid further escalation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/venezuelan-president-maduro-expresses-willingness-to-hold-dialogue-with-us-655858.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 13:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ians-year-ender-2025-how-pakistan-tried-to-revive-homegrown-terror-in-india-and-failed-655863.html New Delhi Dec 27 The fall of the deadly Indian Mujahideen an outfit backed by Pakistan comprising only Indian operatives marked the end of homegrown terror in India The idea was to show the world that terrorism in India is an internal issue and not a Pakistancreated and sponsored one Since the fall of the Indian Mujahideen in 2014 terror incidents have largely been reported from Jammu and Kashmir alone with Pakistani actors participating in most of themOver the last couple of years there has been immense international scrutiny of Pakistan With an economy that has crashed Pakistan could not afford to come under the lens of the Financial Action Task Force FATF once again It created The Resistance Front TRF in Jammu and Kashmir and projected it as a homegrown terror moduleThe Pahalgam attack which was initially claimed by the TRF exposed the bluff as all the terrorists who were part of that operation were Pakistani nationalsThe TRF which is a LashkareTaiba proxy fell silent after the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent action by the Indian Armed Forces which executed Operation Sindoor Post the operation Pakistan desperately needed a homegrown terror group Moreover it wanted this group to operate outside of Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan decided to activate the Faridabad module that has been in the making since the abrogation of Article 370The module was busted in November 2025 and the subsequent investigation led the police to a deadly trail Just days later a member of this module carried out an explosion near the Red Fort in Delhi in which 13 people diedThe police identified the terrorist as Dr Umar Mohammad a resident of Pulwama During the course of the investigation the police managed to seize 2900 kilograms of ammonium nitrate The probe also found that the module comprised mainly doctors and all of them were associated with the AlFalah University in Faridabad The module that was inspired by the JaisheMohammad JeMcomprised highly radicalised persons They had plans to carry out blasts in multiple places in Delhi and nearby areasIt was also learnt that the members of these modules were recruited and handled by one Mufti Irfan Ahmed from Jammu and Kashmir He was closely associated with the JeM and was in regular touch with ISI operativesIrfan had managed to conceal his Pakistan links and made it seem as though this module was entirely homegrown and had no association with the ISI The Jammu and Kashmir Police got wind of this module when posters sympathetic to the JeM cropped up The probe led them up to Irfan and this led to the busting of the Faridabad module The probe revealed a tactical shift by Pakistan which has been finding it hard to send in its terrorists through the Line of Control LoCIt was pushing for a homegrown module that could attack other parts of the country This was largely to divert the attention of the security forces from Jammu and Kashmir so that infiltrations could take place from the multiple launch pads set up in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir PoKFurther the ISI also wanted a module that was on the lines of the Indian Mujahideen On one hand this homegrown module would keep the security mechanism stressed by carrying out blasts while on the other hand Pakistan would have the deniability factorOfficials say that the ISI was not in touch with the handlers of this module on a regular basis The agency wanted the Pakistan links to remain discreet and make it seem that the people of India especially Jammu and Kashmir had formed this module entirely on their own The ISI also wanted this module to convey a message that everyone in Jammu and Kashmir is opposed to the abrogation of Article 370Intelligence agencies also learnt that the ISI was in the process of creating many more such modules across the length and breadth of the country The plan was to carry out blasts at regular intervals as the Indian Mujahideen used to do and also ensure that the trail does not reach out to PakistanPakistan which was finding it hard to infiltrate terrorists was also seeking to buy time by diverting the attention of the security agencies It needed time for its terror outfits to regroup and create a diversion at the border so that infiltrations could take placeThe module was however busted in the nick of time Officials say that had the module gone through with its plan completely then the unthinkable would have taken placeThe agencies say the Faridabad module busted in November 2025 was also meant to be a template for more such homegrown modules to come up in the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ians-year-ender-2025-how-pakistan-tried-to-revive-homegrown-terror-in-india-and-failed-655863.html Sat, 27 Dec 2025 13:50:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-hit-isis-targets-in-nigeria-655713.html Washington Dec 26 President Donald Trump said the United States carried out a military strike against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria describing the action as a direct response to escalating attacks on civilians âTonight at my direction as Commander in Chief the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeriaâ Trump said in a statement posted late Thursday He said the group had been âtargeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years and even CenturiesâTrump said he had issued warnings in advance âI have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians there would be hell to pay and tonight there wasâ he saidAccording to the president US forces carried out multiple operations during the mission âThe Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes as only the United States is capable of doingâ he said without providing operational details âUnder my leadership our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosperâ he said The Amercian strike comes amid heightened congressional focus on Nigeriaâs security situation The US had recently designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Mario DÃazBalart recently led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Nigeria to examine what lawmakers described as alarming antiChristian violence and religious persecutionMembers of the delegation said they heard directly from victims local officials and faith groups and held briefings with the US Embassy on escalating religious violence particularly in the Middle Belt Lawmakers discussed threats to Christian communities mass casualty attacks and largescale displacement as well as the need to improve policing counterterrorism operations and accountabilityDuring visits to Benue State delegation members met state leaders and religious figures who said Christians face record levels of violence kidnappings and forced displacement a media release said Nigeria faith leaders told lawmakers that entire communities had been destroyed and thousands driven from their homes while humanitarian organizations warned that more than 500000 people have been displaced since 2024 IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/trump-says-us-hit-isis-targets-in-nigeria-655713.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-krishnamoorthi-centres-senate-bid-on-economy-accountability-655714.html Washington Dec 26 Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said restoring economic opportunity and holding government accountable is the core of his campaign as he runs for the US Senate âThe most important issue right now is that the American dream the ability of people to fulfil their economic potential is slipping from the grasp of millions of peopleâ Krishnamoorthi told IANS in an interviewHe said rising costs have made basic necessities unaffordable for many families âTheyâre just not able to afford to liveâ he said citing groceries housing electricity healthcare and educationâTheyâre struggling in all of those respects and as a consequence the American dream is slippingâ he said If elected in the November 2026 elections Krishnamoorthi 52 would be the firstever Indian American and Hindu elected to the US Senate Primary is scheduled for March 17 He is running for the seat being vacated by Senator Dick DurbinKrishnamoorthi said economic stress was compounded by failures in governance âWe have a government that is unaccountable to its citizenry right nowâ he said âItâs acting with impunityâHe criticised trade and fiscal decisions that he said burden ordinary Americans âIt is basically raising tariffs on everything from everywhere raising prices for everyoneâ he saidHe also pointed to healthcare impacts âItâs stripping health insurance for upwards of 17 million Americansâ he saidKrishnamoorthi accused the administration of misplaced priorities âItâs demolishing the east wing of the White House and building a golden ballroomâ he said while failing to address serious allegations involving a child sex trafficking ringâIt fails to produce crucial information with regard to a child sex trafficking ring that might have victimised more than a thousand young women in the early two thousandâ he saidHe said such actions reflected broader dysfunction âItâs doing everything wrong right now and we have to make sure that itâs held accountableâ he saidKrishnamoorthi emphasised democratic principles as central to his campaign âAt the end of the day the people rule this country not one individual not one partyâ he said âThe people ultimately have the powerâThe Illinois Democrat has built a national profile through his work on economic policy oversight and foreign affairsHis Senate bid comes amid heightened debate over inflation healthcare access and executive accountability issues expected to dominate the 2026 election cycle IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-krishnamoorthi-centres-senate-bid-on-economy-accountability-655714.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-trade-panel-probes-pakistani-dental-exporters-655715.html Washington Dec 26 The US International Trade Commission has taken up a complaint that targets several Pakistanbased dental product exporters opening the door to possible import bans on their goods in the American market The Commission said it received the complaint on December 16 from Huwais IP Holding LLC and Versah LLC The filing alleges violations of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 involving the import and sale of âcertain dental burs and kits thereofâ in the United StatesAccording to the Federal Register notice the complainants claim the products infringe protected rights and are seeking strong trade remedies These include a general exclusion order or alternatively a limited exclusion order that would block the accused dental products from entering the United States They are also seeking ceaseanddesist orders and a bond on the products during the 60day presidential review periodSeveral Pakistani companies are named as respondents in the case They include Pawn Move of Pakistan Ali House of Dental of Pakistan Mahfooz Instruments of Pakistan Medsal International of Pakistan Hamsan International dba Hamsan Surgical of Pakistan DentalBTC of Pakistan Dyna International of Pakistan and New Med Instruments of Pakistan Firms based in the United States Europe the Middle East Australia and Canada are also listed in the complaintThe Commission has invited responses from the named companies as well as comments from other interested parties and government agencies It said submissions should focus on whether the requested remedies would harm the public interest in the United StatesIn its notice the Commission said it is particularly interested in how the dental products are used in the United States It also wants comments on whether excluding them could raise public health safety or welfare concerns Another key question is whether similar or directly competitive products made in the United States could replace the imported items if they are bannedThe agency is also asking whether the complainants their licensees or thirdparty suppliers have enough capacity to replace the volume of products that could be affected by an exclusion order It further seeks views on how the requested remedies could impact US consumers including pricing and availabilitySection 337 investigations are a key US trade enforcement tool They allow the government to block imports found to violate intellectual property rights or involve unfair trade practices regardless of where the products are madePakistan is a major exporter of surgical and dental instruments with many firms supplying buyers in the United States and Europe Past US trade actions under Section 337 have disrupted overseas suppliers and forced exporters to reassess compliance with US trade and intellectual property rules IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-trade-panel-probes-pakistani-dental-exporters-655715.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-court-rejects-speedy-trial-claim-upholds-terror-conviction-of-pakistani-american-655716.html Washington Dec 26 A US federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of Umar Farooq Chaudhry a dual USPakistani citizen accused of trying to join violent jihad overseas The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Chaudhryâs claim that the US government violated his constitutional right to a speedy trialThe court ruled that the long delay in bringing him to trial did not breach the Sixth AmendmentChaudhry traveled from the United States to Pakistan in 2009 He was part of a group that planned to reach Afghanistan to wage jihad against US and allied forces according to court recordsPakistani authorities arrested the group in December 2009 Chaudhry was later convicted in Pakistan on terrorismrelated chargesHe was sentenced to 10 years in prison He served the full sentence in PakistanAfter his release Chaudhry was extradited to the United States in December 2023 to face similar chargesOnce in US custody Chaudhry moved to dismiss the indictment He argued that the government waited too long to bring him to trialA federal district court in Virginia rejected that argument Chaudhry then entered a conditional guilty plea keeping his right to appeal the speedy trial issueThe appeals court agreed that the delay was long It said the delay was âpresumptively prejudicialâBut the judges ruled that the remaining legal factors did not favor ChaudhryThe court said the US government had valid reasons for the delay It pointed to the extradition treaty between the United States and PakistanUnder the treaty extradition âshall not take placeâ while a person is facing trial or serving a sentence in Pakistan the court notedThe judges also cited the history of failed or delayed US extradition requests to Pakistan In many cases requests were ignored or lost the court saidGiven this record the panel said an earlier extradition request would likely have been futileThe court said US officials still made repeated efforts to secure Chaudhryâs return These included criminal complaints arrest warrants diplomatic outreach and Interpol noticesThe judges described those steps as âreasonably diligentâ and made in good faithThe court also faulted Chaudhry for resisting extradition after his release from prison in 2020It said he spent nearly three years fighting extradition in Pakistani courts That conduct the judges said showed he was not seeking a speedy trialOn the issue of harm the court found no actual prejudiceChaudhry claimed the delay hurt his defense and exposed him to harsh prison conditions in PakistanThe court rejected those arguments It said the prison conditions were not caused by the US governmentIt also said Chaudhry failed to show how the delay impaired his defenceChaudhry ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to the banned group JaisheMohammedUnder the plea agreement prosecutors recommended time served and 20 years of supervised release The district court accepted the dealIn its final ruling the appeals court said the delay alone was not enoughBecause the other legal factors weighed against Chaudhry the court upheld the conviction IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-court-rejects-speedy-trial-claim-upholds-terror-conviction-of-pakistani-american-655716.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-targets-alleged-manipulation-in-h-1b-system-under-new-rule-655718.html Washington Dec 26 The US government has cited concerns related to manipulation and abuse in the H1B visa system as a key driver behind its decision to overhaul how visas are selected each year The Department of Homeland Security in a federal notification this week asserted that the changes were needed to strengthen âprocess integrityâ and preserve fairness in the capsubject H1B programThese new rules outline a range of practices that the DHS said raised red flags during recent filing cycles including wage manipulation inconsistent job information and the filing of multiple registrations tied to related entitiesMaking a strong case the DHS asserted that the amendments aim to reduce incentives for employers to game the system and to ensure that selections reflect legitimate job offers rather than strategic filingsOne concern flagged in public comments was the potential for employers to inflate wages on paper to improve selection chances DHS said the rule includes safeguards to discourage such behavior and promote consistency between registrations and final petitionsThe department also pointed to risks of manipulation involving job locations Some commenters warned that listing higherpaying locations during registration while intending to place workers elsewhere later threatens the systems credibilityDHS said it would focus on consistency between the information submitted during registration and the details provided in the full petition including job duties wage levels and work locationsAnother issue raised involved the use of multiple registrations for the same worker the DHS said adding that it related to entities filing separate registrations for a single beneficiary distorting selection outcomes and weakening trust in the processThe final rule reinforces certification requirements and outlines consequences for inaccurate or misleading filings DHS said this is intended to deter abuse and reduce unnecessary strain on adjudication resourcesWhile the department dealt with concerns regarding manipulation of job classifications under the Standard Occupational Classification system several commenters warned that employers could strategically select job codes to justify higher wages without showing real job duties according to the federal notificationThe rule was intended to furnish a clearer legal standard and reduce ambiguity helping both employers and regulators understand compliance expectations it said and noted that it is limited to changes within existing H1B regulations and does not add new environmental tribal or federalism impacts requiring additional reviewThe department maintained that the revised process would improve transparency while preserving access to highskilled workersThe H1B program capped annually by Congress has faced repeated scrutiny over fraud fairness and enforcement as demand for visas continues to far exceed supplyUS immigration authorities have increasingly relied on regulatory changes rather than legislation to address weaknesses in the system during stalled reforms on Capitol Hill IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-targets-alleged-manipulation-in-h-1b-system-under-new-rule-655718.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 08:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/declassified-us-records-reveal-how-india-shaped-paris-climate-deal-and-protected-growth-655725.html Washington Dec 26 Newly declassified US diplomatic records show that India played a decisive role in shaping the Paris climate agreement The documents reveal that New Delhi helped force a nonbinding global deal They also show how India preserved room for growth while joining a universal climate framework The records released by the National Security Archive early this month on the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement include internal US cables and negotiating papers from 2014 and 2015 Together they show that US officials viewed India as both indispensable and difficultWashington believed that no global climate deal was credible without India At the same time US negotiators were determined to weaken the old divide between developed and developing countries that India relied on in climate talksA February 2014 US position paper stated that the United States would ânot support a bifurcated approachâ based on 1992era categoriesIt argued that such divisions were ânot rational or workable in the post2020 eraâ citing changes in emissions and economic growth The formulation directly affected countries like India whose climate diplomacy was rooted in equity and historical responsibility according to these declassified documentsIndia pushed back through coalitions The documents repeatedly refer to BASIC â Brazil South Africa India and China â and to the LikeMinded Developing Countries group These blocs resisted legally binding emissions targets and demanded stronger recognition of development needsUS officials took these groupings seriously In internal strategy notes and cables they warned that India and China acting together could block consensus if pushed toward a binding treaty One latestage cable referred to the âemergence of G77 and China as a unified blocâ highlighting the negotiating leverage of developing countriesThat leverage shaped the final outcomeInstead of a treaty with binding emissions cuts the United States backed a system of nationally determined contributions Under this model each country sets its own targets These targets are reported and reviewed but not enforced through international lawFor Washington this approach avoided the US Senate where any binding treaty would likely fail For India it avoided mandatory emissions caps that could restrict developmentA March 12 2015 cable from then Secretary of State John Kerry made the US position clear Kerry warned that publicly calling for a âlegally binding agreementâ could be âmisunderstood by countriesâ and would trigger Senate ratification He said such an outcome would doom the dealIndia used this constraint to its advantageBy resisting binding obligations and holding firm with China and other developing countries India helped lock in a flexible structure That structure allowed India to submit a climate pledge focused on emissions intensity not absolute cutsUS cables tracked Indiaâs moves closely Officials repeatedly noted the importance of India submitting its intended nationally determined contribution by mid2015 to maintain momentum toward Paris Indiaâs timing and content mattered because it signaled that major developing economies would join the deal â but on their own termsThe documents also show that India was not just a climate actor US negotiators feared India could link climate talks with trade demands One State Department paper set a clear âredlineâ against allowing climate negotiations to limit US trade actions It warned that âIndia Argentina and other Partiesâ might try to leverage climate talks to push rules favorable to developing countries Washington said it would not accept thatDespite these tensions the final Paris Agreement reflected Indiaâs core priorities The deal set a collective temperature goal It required transparency and reporting from all countries But it avoided legally binding emissions cuts and preserved national discretionFor India this meant entry into a universal climate regime without surrendering development space For the United States it meant a deal that could be signed by executive actionA decade later the declassified record shows that Paris was not imposed on India Nor was it a simple concession It was a negotiated outcome shaped by Indiaâs resistance coalition politics and strategic patienceIndia helped make the Paris Agreement possible It also ensured that the agreement did not come at the cost of its growth trajectory IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/declassified-us-records-reveal-how-india-shaped-paris-climate-deal-and-protected-growth-655725.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:46:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/china-pakistan-axis-weighs-on-indias-security-us-report-655726.html Washington Dec 26 Chinaâs close military partnership with Pakistan is shaping Indiaâs security environment even as Beijing seeks to ease tensions along the Line of Actual Control LAC with New Delhi according to a new US Department of War report to Congress The report said China and Pakistan continue to expand defence cooperation arms sales and military engagement It described Pakistan as Chinaâs most consistent and operationally significant military partnerChinaâs ties with Pakistan include the transfer and coproduction of weapons systems These span air land and naval platforms Chinese equipment forms a major part of Pakistanâs military modernization the report notedAccording to the assessment Beijing uses military partnerships to advance its foreign policy goals Arms sales training programs and joint activities are key tools Pakistan stands out as a longterm beneficiary of this approachThe report said the ChinaPakistan relationship has implications for India It raises the prospect of pressure on India from both its northern and western fronts during a crisis The document does not predict joint military action but it points to growing alignment in strategic interestsAt the same time the report said China has taken limited steps to stabilize its border with India In October 2024 Indian and Chinese leaders announced disengagement from remaining standoff points along the LAC This was followed by regular highlevel talks on border managementDespite this the report stressed that mistrust remains deep It said âcontinued mutual distrust and other irritants almost certainly limit the bilateral relationshipâ Beijing it added may seek calmer borders to prevent closer USIndia strategic tiesThe Pentagon report also noted that Chinaâs territorial claims include Arunachal Pradesh Beijing has linked such claims to its âcore interestsâ This places Indiaâs border dispute with China in a sensitive categoryChinaâs wider military buildup adds to Indiaâs concerns The report said Beijing is rapidly expanding missile cyber space and nuclear capabilities These developments affect the broader balance of power in Asia including South AsiaFor Pakistan Chinese support offers strategic depth It also provides diplomatic backing at a difficult economic moment For India the partnership reinforces fears of strategic encirclementThe report also referred to Chinaâs interest in access and logistics facilities in the Indian Ocean region Some of these areas are close to Pakistanâs maritime approaches While no permanent Chinese bases are confirmed the report said such access could support PLA operationsThis the assessment noted could complicate Indiaâs maritime security planning It would add pressure beyond the land bordersOverall the report described South Asia as an interconnected strategic space Chinaâs ties with Pakistan its cautious engagement with India and its expanding military power intersect in this regionFor New Delhi the assessment underlines the need for vigilance It said India must manage border tensions while preparing for wider regional challenges Diplomatic engagement the report suggested will continue alongside security planningThe document is part of a congressionally mandated annual review of Chinaâs military and security developments and reflects US concerns about Beijingâs growing influence in South Asia IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/china-pakistan-axis-weighs-on-indias-security-us-report-655726.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/public-comments-show-sharp-divide-over-us-wage-based-h-1b-rule-655727.html Washington Dec 26 Public comments submitted on the US governmentâs new H1B visa rule show a sharp split over how the changes could reshape highskilled immigration and the technology workforce The Department of Homeland Security DHS summarised hundreds of submissions received during the rulemaking process in its final rule published in the Federal Register The comments reflect competing views on whether the H1B programme helps or harms the US economySeveral commenters stated that H1B professionals play a crucial role in driving innovation productivity and entrepreneurship in the United States They argued that foreignborn workers make significant contributions to economic growth particularly in technology and research fieldsSome comments focused on international students These submissions said limiting job opportunities for graduates of US universities would weaken innovation and reduce the countryâs global competitivenessStartups and small businesses featured prominently in many responses Commenters said these firms are major sources of innovation but often lack the resources to compete with large companies on salaries They warned that a wageweighted selection system could shut startups out of the H1B programmeSeveral submissions said many breakthroughs come from earlycareer professionals and research institutions These commenters cautioned that higher wage thresholds could favour established firms and reduce diversity in innovationOne commenter said that startups depend on the H1B programme to recruit workers with âniche expertiseâ The submission warned that the rule would make the programme more expensive and harder to use limiting growth and global leadership in technologyOther commenters took the opposite view They questioned claims of a STEM labour shortage and cited studies suggesting the US has more qualified tech workers than available jobsSome comments pointed to unemployment data among the recent US graduates in computer science and related fields They argued that job prospects for domestic workers have weakened even as employers continue to seek H1B hiresSeveral submissions said the technology industry has overstated skills shortages One comment described the US IT labour market as âawash with supplyâ Others said American students are both interested in and capable of doing highskilled tech workWage trends were another focus Some commenters cited research showing flat or declining real wages in computer and mathematical occupations over several years They argued this suggests an oversupply of labour rather than a shortageOther comments accused tech and outsourcing firms of exploiting the H1B programme These submissions said companies continued hiring H1B workers during periods of mass layoffs of US employeesSeveral commenters said the programme has been used to replace domestic workers or hold down wages They argued that stronger controls were needed to protect US labour standardsSome public submissions supported DHSâs approach These commenters said discouraging the hiring of lowerwage foreign workers would push employers to recruit qualified US workers who are unemployed or underemployedOthers raised concerns about the integrity of the system Comments pointed to possible wage manipulation inconsistent job descriptions and the use of multiple registrations to increase selection chancesDHS said it reviewed the public input and disagreed that the rule would harm innovation or economic growth The department said the changes would help employers attract and retain âhighly skilled and highly paidâ workersThe public comments highlight longstanding tensions around the H1B programme which sits at the centre of US debates on jobs wages and immigrationThe H1B visa capped by Congress each year has drawn intense scrutiny for decades particularly in the technology sector where foreignborn professionals form a significant share of the workforce IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/public-comments-show-sharp-divide-over-us-wage-based-h-1b-rule-655727.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-church-panel-exposed-cia-role-in-chile-coup-655735.html Washington Dec 26 Fifty years ago the US Congress held its first public hearing into secret CIA operations aimed at overthrowing a foreign government The focus was Chile The hearing was led by Senator Frank Church an Idaho Democrat He said the step was taken because âthe American people must know and be able to judge what was undertaken by their government in ChileâChurch said the goal was to explain âthe nature and extent of the American role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Chilean governmentâ He called it a matter of âdeep and continuing public concernâAt the same time Churchâs Senate committee released a detailed report titled âCovert Action in Chile 1963â1973â The study was based on Top Secret CIA recordsThe report found that US covert involvement in Chile over a decade was âextensive and continuousâ It said the CIA first worked to block Socialist leader Salvador Allende from winning the presidency After his election efforts shifted to weakening his governmentThe committee warned that covert action carries high costs It said such operations should be used only against âsevere threats to the national security of the United Statesâ It added âIt is far from clear that that was the case in ChileâNewly declassified documents released on the anniversary show how the Ford administration tried to block the investigationWhen Congress sought State Department cables Secretary of State Henry Kissinger told aides to refuse âYou shift it to the White House and let the White House refuse itâ he said according to a secret transcriptFor months the White House CIA and State Department delayed responses They cited staff shortages CIA Director William Colby later said âthe White House told us not to cooperate They just didnât want to turn over documentsâThe White House claimed executive privilege over key records These included National Security Council meeting notes from November 6 1970 days after Allendeâs inaugurationCIA Director Richard Helmsâ handwritten notes from that meeting were withheld The notes recorded President Richard Nixonâs instruction âIf there is a way to bring Allende down we should do itâKissinger also concealed transcripts of his phone calls with Nixon and Helms These âtelconsâ would have shown his role in shaping US policy toward ChileThe CIA also withheld records showing payments of 35000 in âhush moneyâ The money went to those involved in the killing of Chilean army commander Gen Rene Schneider according to the committeeAs the inquiry neared completion President Gerald Ford intervened He urged that a separate report on assassination plots remain classifiedOn November 1 1975 Ford signed a decision memo opposing public hearings on Chile The White House warned that such hearings would âestablish a precedentâ and have âa shattering effectâ on future covert cooperationCIA Director Colby later sought compromise He met Church and Senator Charles Mathias at an informal dinner The CIA proposed limiting public exposure to Chile aloneDespite pressure the committee moved aheadOn November 20 1975 it released a report on CIA assassination plots involving foreign leaders On December 4 Church released the Chile case study and opened two days of hearingsAnalyst Peter Kornbluh later said the hearings âestablished a historic markerâ in efforts to hold the CIA accountableInvestigators Gregory Treverton and Karl Inderfurth testified Treverton read Nixonâs September 15 1970 order directing the CIA to block Allendeâs inaugurationLooking back Treverton said the process affirmed a core principle Classified intelligence records he said are âgovernment documents not just the Executive BranchâsâInderfurth said the Chile record remains relevant today He warned that covert actions harmed Chileans most of all and damaged the image of the United States as a âbeacon of democracyâThe Church Committeeâs work later led to permanent intelligence oversight committees in CongressIts Chile investigation remains one of the clearest examples of lawmakers forcing transparency on secret foreign interventions â and asserting democratic control over covert power IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-church-panel-exposed-cia-role-in-chile-coup-655735.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 13:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-picks-jamaat-heir-azmi-to-oversee-radical-armed-force-in-bangladesh-655744.html New Delhi Dec 26 Security agencies are keeping a close watch on the developments in Bangladesh as the radical National Armed Reserve NAR is set to come up The unit would comprise over 8000 radicalised youth of Bangladesh and the aim would be to control the country by imposing the Sharia law officials saidThe NRA is being set up to replace the police in the country This unit will ensure the strict implementation of the Sharia law Intelligence Bureau officials saidThis plan was set in motion by the ISI and the Pakistan army and in the runup to its setting up several meetings have already taken placeThe plan by Pakistan is to have both a radical army and a police wing The process of identifying persons in Bangladesh who have a complete Pakistan tilt and are highly radicalised has already begun officials have learntCurrently there are many within the army including its chief General WakerUzZaman who feel that Bangladesh should be run democratically This is the reason why the ISI is trying to restructure the Army and put people who are loyal to Pakistan at the helm Pakistan has identified Brigadier retd Abdullahil Aman Azmi to oversee the processHe is a highly radicalised person and the son of the late JamaateIslami emir Golam Azam He has held a series of meetings with top Pakistani officials and Indian agencies have learnt that he is likely to be given an important portfolio in Bangladeshs security architecture Pakistan seeks to make Azmi an advisor first in the home ministryOnce the elections are conducted this position would cease to exist and then the plan would be to put him in charge of the NAR officials saidSince Muhammad Yunus took charge several Pakistani diplomats have moved to Bangladesh They hold regular consultations with officials in Dhaka One of the key figures that they have been meeting is Azmi He is the gobetween man between Dhaka and Islamabad officials have learntMeetings are held at the Banani Officersâ Housing Scheme where many Pakistani diplomats are lodged One such meeting that was held on December 23 has come under the radar of the Indian agenciesThe meeting was held between Azmi and Pakistanâs Deputy High Commissioner Mohammad Wasim at the same complex This meeting signals the making of something big officials saidFurther meetings have also been held between top ISI officials and diplomats in Dhaka Intelligence agencies say that these meetings point towards a sinister plot ahead of the proposed February 2026 electionsWhile plans are afoot to disrupt the elections officials said that this plan may not be successful The aim is to run Bangladesh like how Pakistan is being governedWhile there is a namesake democratically elected government in power all the control is with the Pakistan Army headed by Field Marshal Asim MunirElections would have to be held to avoid pressure from the International community especially the United States Even if there is a democratically elected government in power Pakistan wants the NAR and the army to be in chargeThe NAR would eventually replace the police while puppets of the Pakistan establishment in the Bangladesh army would oversee the running of the countryThe primary aim is to turn Bangladesh into a completely radical country Outfits such as the ISIbacked JamaateIslami are rooting for this and hence they need to have an NAR in place This unit would ensure that everyone strictly adheres to radical IslamOn the other hand the Army would be helmed by puppets of Pakistan officials sayThe Indian Intelligence agencies will have a lot on the plate in the days to come as several developments are unfolding in Bangladesh The nation remains on edge due to the fake narrative that the ISI has spread On the other hand the ISI is trying to infiltrate every institution and take control over the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-picks-jamaat-heir-azmi-to-oversee-radical-armed-force-in-bangladesh-655744.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-seeks-10-year-prison-term-for-ex-president-yoon-over-obstruction-of-justice-other-charges-655753.html Seoul Dec 26 A special counsel team on Friday sought a 10year prison term for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over obstruction of justice and other charges related to his December 2024 imposition of martial law Special counsel Cho Eunsuks team requested the sentence during the final hearing of Yoons related trial at the Seoul Central District Court saying the former president committed a grave crime by privatizing state institutions with the aim of concealing and justifying his criminal acts Yonhap News Agency reportedThe request was the first sentencing recommendation to come from his four trials on martial lawrelated charges The defendants criminal acts seriously damaged law and order in the Republic of Korea and inflicted a large wound on the people who trusted him and chose him as president a member of the team saidnbspEven so rather than conveying his regret or apology to the people during the trial proceedings the defendant repeatedly argued for the legitimacy of his martial law declaration he saidThe trial centers on charges the former president obstructed justice by blocking investigators from detaining him in January violated the rights of nine Cabinet members who were not called to a meeting to review his martial law plan and drafted and destroyed a revised proclamation after the decree was liftednbspIn addition the former president has been charged with ordering the distribution of press statements containing falsehoods about the declaration and the deletion of records from secure phones used by then military commandersBy charge the special counsel team demanded five years in prison for obstructing his detention three years for violating Cabinet members rights distributing falsehoods to the foreign press and destroying phone records and two years for drafting the revised proclamationnbspIn order to repair the Constitution and legalism damaged by the defendant and prevent a repeat of power abuse crimes by the most powerful figures in the Republic of Koreas history we must demand strict accountability the special counsel team member saidYoon is also standing three other trials in connection with his failed martial law bid including over charges he led an insurrectionnbspThe obstruction of justice trial will be the first to conclude and the court previously said it will likely deliver a verdict on Jan 16 two days before Yoons arrest is set to expirenbspYoons lawyers had argued the verdict should be delivered after the insurrection trial concludes but the judge dismissed the claim The insurrection trial is scheduled to wrap up in early January at the earliest in which case a verdict could come around February IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-seeks-10-year-prison-term-for-ex-president-yoon-over-obstruction-of-justice-other-charges-655753.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-unification-ministry-reviewing-permitting-public-access-to-north-koreas-newspaper-655754.html Seoul Dec 26 South Koreas unification ministry said Friday it is in talks with related government agencies to review measures to allow public access to the Rodong Sinmun the main newspaper of North Koreas ruling Workers Party and other North Korean materials In South Korea public access to North Korean media and publications including the Rodong Sinmun is denied as they are classified as special materials due to concerns that they include content praising and promoting North Korea Yonhap News Agency reportedSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung took issue with a ban on public access to the Norths materials during last weeks policy briefing by the unification ministry Lee said the current ban amounts to treating the public as those who can fall for propaganda and agitation by the NorthLater in the day the unification ministry the National Intelligence Service NIS and other government agencies are believed to hold a meeting to review ways to reclassify the Rodong Sinmun as general materials not as special ones under the spy agencys guidelinesWe are considering measures to allow public access to North Korean materials in a more open manner Chang Yoonjeong deputy spokesperson at the ministry told a press briefing FridayThe NIS earlier said it is positively reviewing steps to permit the people to access North Korean materials to ensure the publics right to know and facilitate interKorean exchangesCurrently the Rodong Sinmun can be read at designated facilities such as the ministrys information center on North Korea only after an applicants identity and purpose for accessing the content are verifiedBut if the Rodong Sinmun is reclassified as general information South Koreans can easily access the paper version of the newspaper Still online access to the newspapers website will continue to be bannedIn a report to the National Assembly the NIS said it will also proactively review whether to lift a ban on online access to North Korearelated websitesThe government has restricted online access to around 60 North Korean websites in accordance with the Information and Communications Network ActThe act stipulates the government can restrict the publics online access to information related to activities banned under the national security law IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-unification-ministry-reviewing-permitting-public-access-to-north-koreas-newspaper-655754.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/as-ttp-militarises-pakistan-faces-escalating-internal-security-crisis-655760.html New Delhi Dec 26 There is fresh trouble brewing for Pakistan as the TehreekeTaliban Pakistan TTP has decided to expand the outfit to resemble a military unit The expansion which has already been set in motion is a cause of concern for Pakistan as terror attacks are bound to increase in the coming year Intelligence Bureau officials say that the TTP has inflicted massive damage on the Pakistan Army and in the coming year the hostilities are likely to double Pakistan is already struggling to contain the TTP and the challenges are expected to intensify in the coming yearIn the runup to these expansion plans the TTP has strengthened its propaganda wing The outfit is using a lot of the online space to spruce up its propaganda against the Pakistan army In November 2022 the TTP ended the ceasefire with Pakistan following which attacks have gone up multifold in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa KPThe TTP has targeted both the army and law enforcement personnel in large numbers since the ceasefire ended in 2022 The TTP has added new provinces to its administrative control which include GilgitBaltistan Changes have been made to the military leadership with the appointment of Ehsanullah Ipi the greatgrandson of Faqir Ipi as the head of the Southern Military ZoneFurther the appointment of Hilal Ghazi as the head of the Central Military Zone is also another major change that the TTP has effected The political commission would now be headed by Azmatullah Mehsud while Maulvi Faqir would remain as a member of the commissionOfficials say that the TTP is also planning its own Air Force The plan is under discussion but is likely to get operational only by the end of 2026 Earlier this month a roadside bomb killed three Pakistani police officials near the Afghan border The incident occurred in the northwest region of KP Pakistan was quick to blame the TTP for the attackOfficials say that the TTP headache for Pakistan shows no signs of ending anytime soon The TTP has big plans and is hellbent on beating down the Pakistan establishment Courtesy the TTP ties between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan have soured considerably Pakistan has without proof blamed the Afghan Taliban for backing the TTP and also letting them use their soil to launch attacks on PakistanPakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has told the Afghan Taliban to choose between the TTP and Pakistan The Taliban has however said that the TTP is Pakistanâs problem and it is Islamabad that should be dealing with the outfitPakistan on its part has tried forging alliances between the Islamic State Khorasan Province ISKP and the LashkareTaiba to fight against the TTP Pakistan had hoped that this alliance would largely contain the TTP but the outfit has no signs of slowing down The ISKP had readily agreed to this alliance as it needed Pakistanâs help to fight against the Afghan Taliban in AfghanistanThe ISKP has been looking to dislodge the Taliban and seize control over Afghanistan but its efforts have largely failed While the ISKP had agreed to this alliance many within the LashkareTaiba were unhappy with this decisionMany within the Hafiz Saeedfounded outfit think that it would be unfair to fight against the TTP or Afghan Taliban This explains the reason why this alliance has been a slow starter an official saidPakistan watchers say that the TTP is gaining strength much to the concern of the Pakistani army It is a group that would be difficult for Pakistan to contain and in the coming year the TTP would prove to be much more lethal than what one got to witness this year IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/as-ttp-militarises-pakistan-faces-escalating-internal-security-crisis-655760.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cambodia-says-thai-fighter-jets-bomb-its-border-village-655775.html Phnom Penh Dec 26 Cambodian Defence Ministrys Undersecretary of State and spokesperson Lt Gen Maly Socheata said on Friday that Thai F16 fighter jets dropped as many as 40 bombs in a border village in Banteay Meanchey province She said in a press briefing that the bombardment destroyed civilian houses as well as public infrastructures in Chok Chey village Xinhua news agency reportedThe Thai military also fired artillery shells into a civilian residential area in Poipet Municipality of Banteay Meanchey province she addedEarlier on December 25 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had urged the full implementation of the Peace Accords amid ongoing violence between Cambodia and ThailandDuring a phone conversation with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet Secretary Rubio reaffirmed that the United States stands ready to facilitate discussions aimed at ensuring peace and stability between Cambodia and Thailand said State Department spokesperson Tommy PigottRubio had stressed the importance of both countries fully implementing the Kuala Lumpur Peace AccordsThe recent clashes along the ThailandCambodia border stemming from longstanding territorial disputes dating back to the colonial era reignited in late May following military confrontations in border regionsOn Thursday Thailands military announced that border negotiations with Cambodia entered the second day with overall clashes along the frontier showing a downward trendAccording to Thai media reports the Secretariat meeting of the ThaiCambodian General Border Committee GBC kicked off at around 9 am local time on the Thai side of the border in Chanthaburi provinceAround 30 Cambodian delegates attended the meeting while Malaysian members of the ASEAN observer team in Thailand also presentedIn a press briefing held on Thursday a Thai military spokesperson stated that the intensity of border skirmishes between the two countries has generally decreased with exchanges of fire remaining confined to localised areasOn October 26 during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia Thailand and Cambodia had signed a joint peace declaration Just two months later however violence erupted again IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cambodia-says-thai-fighter-jets-bomb-its-border-village-655775.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:38:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-pti-announces-mass-protest-movement-in-lahore-655776.html Islamabad Dec 26 Pakistan TehreekeInsaf PTI on Friday announced that it would begin a street movement by welcoming Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in Lahore and holding a public event at the Liberty Roundabout local media reported PTI Punjab chief organiser Aliya Hamza Malik said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will launch a mass protest movement as per the instructions given by PTI founder Imran Khan She asked PTIs ticketholders officebearers workers and lawyers in Lahore to be present at Liberty Roundabout to welcome Afridi Pakistans leading daily Dawn reportedAliya Hamza Malik asked PTI members to play their part in ârestoring constitution law and democracy in the countryâ She stated that it would be a historic moment to transform main boulevard of Lahore into a march to secure Imran Khans releaseImran Khan who has been in prison since August 2023 is serving a 14year jail sentence at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi in a Â190 million corruption case and faces pending trials under the AntiTerrorism Act linked to the protests held on May 9 2023 Imran Khans wife Bushra Bibi is also serving a sevenyear sentence in the same caseLast week Imran Khan issued a call for nationwide protest and announced his intention to challenge the courts decision in the ToshakhanaII case in the Islamabad High CourtHis statement came after a Pakistani court on Saturday sentenced Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison in connection with the Toshakhana II caseThe ToshakhanaII corruption case involves the purchase of an expensive jewellery set gifted to Imran Khand by the Saudi Crown Prince during an official visit in May 2021 at a nominal priceThe verdict was pronounced by Judge Central Shahrukh Arjumand of the Federal Investigation Agency FIAs special court during proceedings conducted at Rawalpindis Adiala jail where Imran Khan is imprisonedUnder the ruling Imran Khan was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison receiving 10 years of rigorous imprisonment under several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and seven years under the Prevention of Corruption Act IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-pti-announces-mass-protest-movement-in-lahore-655776.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/unremitting-hostility-against-minorities-in-bangladesh-matter-of-grave-concern-mea--655798.html New Delhi Dec 26 IANS Voicing its grave concern over the persistent incidents of violence targetting religious minorities including Hindus Christians and Buddhists in its neighbourhood India on Friday asserted that it is keeping a close watch on the ongoing developments in BangladeshnbspIndia is closely monitoring developments and has expressed grave concern over the continued hostility of minorities including Hindus Christians and Buddhists We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice More than 2900 incidents of violence against minorities including cases of killings arson and land grabs have been documented by sources during the tenure of the interim government These incidents cannot be brushed aside as mere media exaggerations or dismissed as political violence Ministry of External Affairs MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on FridaySlamming the unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh India also rejected the false antiIndia narrative being projected in Bangladesh while reiterating that maintaining law and order and ensuring security is the responsibility of the Muhammad Yunusled interim governmentWe have rejected the false narrative that is being projected in Bangladesh Maintaining law and order and security is the responsibility of the Bangladesh interim government To portray a narrative where things in some other direction is completely false and we reject that said JaiswalnbspOn Thursday Bangladeshi media reported the killing of another Hindu youth identified as 29yearold Amrit Mondal who was allegedly lynched by a mob in the Hossaindanga area of Kalimohar Union in Bangladesh late WednesdayLast week MEA stated that India continues to monitor the evolving situation in Bangladesh and conveyed strong concerns to Bangladeshi authorities regarding the attacks on minoritiesThe remarks came after a 25yearold Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das was brutally killed in a mob lynching incident over false blasphemy accusations by a Muslim coworker at his factory on December 18 The mob killed Das and then hung his body from a tree before setting it on firenbspIndia continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh Our officials remain in touch with the Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice the MEA addedBangladesh has witnessed escalating violence against minorities including Hindus under the Yunusled interim government sparking outrage among people and several human rights organisations across the globenbspEarlier on December 17 the MEA summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah to convey New Delhis strong concerns over the deteriorating security environment in BangladeshnbspAccording to the MEA the Bangladeshi envoys attention was drawn specifically to the activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in DhakaIndia outrightly rejected the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in BangladeshnbspThe MEA expressed concern that the Yunusled interim government neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidentsnbspIndia has also called on the Yunusled interim government to ensure the safety of Indian missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations https://dailyworld.in/international/unremitting-hostility-against-minorities-in-bangladesh-matter-of-grave-concern-mea--655798.html Fri, 26 Dec 2025 17:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-iran-deport-over-3-500-afghan-refugees-in-single-day-taliban-655625.html Kabul Dec 25 Over 3500 Afghan refugees have been repatriated from Iran and Pakistan in a single day a Taliban official said on Thursday Sharing a report from the High Commission for Addressing Migrants Issues on X Taliban deputy spokesperson Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 745 families comprising 3513 individuals returned to Afghanistan on Wednesday Pajhwok Afghan News reportedAfghan returnees travelled to Afghanistan through several border crossings including Islam Qala in Herat PuliAbresham in Nimroz Spin Boldak in Kandahar Bahramcha in Helmand and Torkham in NangarharFitrat stated that 627 families including 3487 individuals were taken to their respective regions while 660 families were provided humanitarian assistance upon arrival Additionally telecommunication firms provided 714 SIM cards to the returning refugeesHe revealed that 3610 Afghan refugees were deported from Iran and Pakistan on TuesdayEarlier in November several Afghan refugees in Pakistan said that they had been overwhelmed by continuous pressure from the countrys police which apart from conducting searches was arresting people and exploiting their vulnerable situation as a source of incomeA report in an Afghan newspaper 8 AM Media also known as HashteSubh Daily highlighted that Afghan refugees in Pakistan do not have basic human rights and live in constant fear and anxietyHuman rights groups and refugeesupport groups have remained silent regarding the uncertainty and the governments failure to fulfil its commitment to human rights and the protection of refugeesOver the past few months as tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan continue Islamabad has increased its pressure on Afghan refugees with the Pakistani forces conducting widespread harassment of migrants each day in various areas including IslamabadApart from official operations involving the arrest of Afghan refugees without visas people in plain clothes extort money from migrants in residential areas Afghan people have said that they live in inhumane conditions filled with fear and anxiety and their refugee rights are not respected IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-iran-deport-over-3-500-afghan-refugees-in-single-day-taliban-655625.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:32:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-urges-pakistan-to-cut-remittance-incentives-experts-warn-of-shift-to-hawala-channels-655629.html New Delhi Dec 25 The International Monetary Fund IMF has asked the Pakistan government to reduce its spending on incentives given for foreign remittances a move that has raised concerns among experts about a possible shift of money flows back to informal channels According to a report by Nikkei Asia analysts fear that cutting these incentives could weaken official banking routes and push more remittances towards backstreet networks such as hawala and hundiThe IMFâs recommendation was mentioned in a stafflevel report released earlier this month after the second review of Pakistanâs 7 billion bailout programmeIn the report the IMF said that lowering the cost of crossborder payments would reduce the need for governmentfunded incentivesIt added that Pakistan plans to assess the barriers and costs involved in remittances and prepare an action plan while significantly reducing fiscal support for these incentivesRemittances play a crucial role in Pakistanâs economy as they are the countryâs largest source of foreign exchangeIn the last financial year ending in June Pakistan received around 38 billion in remittances which was higher than its export earnings of about 32 billionThe government currently offers incentives by giving cash rebates to banks and exchange companies for remittances sent through official channelsThese benefits are often passed on to overseas Pakistanis in the form of better exchange rates or small bonusesPakistanâs balance of payments remains under pressure due to a large trade deficit of nearly 27 billion in the previous financial yearHowever strong remittance inflows helped the country record a small current account surplus of around 2 billionOther sources of foreign inflows have been weak with foreign direct investment standing at roughly 2 billion making remittances vital for supporting the currency and preventing another foreign exchange crisisExperts say remittances have a much bigger impact on Pakistanâs economy than foreign direct investment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-urges-pakistan-to-cut-remittance-incentives-experts-warn-of-shift-to-hawala-channels-655629.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-asks-pakistan-to-cut-remittance-incentives-experts-warn-of-shift-to-hawala-channels-655633.html New Delhi Dec 25 The International Monetary Fund IMF has asked the Pakistan government to reduce its spending on incentives given for foreign remittances a move that has raised concerns among experts about a possible shift of money flows back to informal channels According to a report by Nikkei Asia analysts fear that cutting these incentives could weaken official banking routes and push more remittances towards backstreet networks such as hawala and hundiThe IMFâs recommendation was mentioned in a stafflevel report released earlier this month after the second review of Pakistanâs 7 billion bailout programmeIn the report the IMF said that lowering the cost of crossborder payments would reduce the need for governmentfunded incentivesIt added that Pakistan plans to assess the barriers and costs involved in remittances and prepare an action plan while significantly reducing fiscal support for these incentivesRemittances play a crucial role in Pakistanâs economy as they are the countryâs largest source of foreign exchangeIn the last financial year ending in June Pakistan received around 38 billion in remittances which was higher than its export earnings of about 32 billionThe government currently offers incentives by giving cash rebates to banks and exchange companies for remittances sent through official channelsThese benefits are often passed on to overseas Pakistanis in the form of better exchange rates or small bonusesPakistanâs balance of payments remains under pressure due to a large trade deficit of nearly 27 billion in the previous financial yearHowever strong remittance inflows helped the country record a small current account surplus of around 2 billionOther sources of foreign inflows have been weak with foreign direct investment standing at roughly 2 billion making remittances vital for supporting the currency and preventing another foreign exchange crisisExperts say remittances have a much bigger impact on Pakistanâs economy than foreign direct investment IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/imf-asks-pakistan-to-cut-remittance-incentives-experts-warn-of-shift-to-hawala-channels-655633.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 15:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-forces-capture-sviato-pokrovske-settlement-in-donetsk-655673.html Moscow Dec 25 The Russian Defence Ministry said on Thursday that units of its Southern Group of Forces had taken control of the settlement of SviatoPokrovske in the Donetsk region As a result of decisive actions units of the Southern Group of Forces liberated the settlement of SviatoPokrovske in the Donetsk region the ministry said in a statementAdditionally Russian air defence systems shot down six aerial bombs one USmade HIMARS rocket and 472 fixedwing unmanned aerial vehicles in the special military operation zone over the past 24 hours the ministry added Xinhua news agency reported Meanwhile two oil storage tanks caught fire at the southern Russian port of Temryuk after a drone attack though no casualties were reported authorities in the Krasnodar region said Thursday based on preliminary informationThe total fire area is approximately 2000 square metres And 70 personnel and 18 pieces of equipment are involved in the firefighting effortA separate drone strike overnight targeted the village of Nikolaevka in the Krasnodar region damaging multiple industrial structures and farm equipmentOn Monday Ukrainian drones attacked the port of Taman in the Volna settlement damaging two piers and two tankers In addition two storage tanks were damaged by the falling wreckage of intercepted dronesTemryuk and Taman are major seaports on the Black Sea vital to Russias export of oil and petroleum products Earlier this week Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed in a car explosion in MoscowAccording to the Russian security agencies an explosive device was planted under a car and detonated on Yasenevaya Street in southern Moscow on Monday morning Sarvarov head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff died from injuriesAn investigation has been launched into the murder with authorities examining multiple possible motives including alleged involvement by Ukrainian special services it said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-forces-capture-sviato-pokrovske-settlement-in-donetsk-655673.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:15:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/thailand-cambodia-border-talks-enter-second-day-as-clashes-ease-655677.html BangkokPhnom Penh Dec 25 Thailands military announced on Thursday that border negotiations with Cambodia have entered the second day with overall clashes along the frontier showing a downward trend According to Thai media reports the Secretariat meeting of the ThaiCambodian General Border Committee GBC kicked off at around 9 am local time on the Thai side of the border in Chanthaburi provinceAround 30 Cambodian delegates attended the meeting while Malaysian members of the ASEAN observer team in Thailand also presented Xinhua news agency reportedIn a press briefing held on Thursday a Thai military spokesperson stated that the intensity of border skirmishes between the two countries has generally decreased with exchanges of fire remaining confined to localised areasSeparately Thailands 2nd Army Area Command reported on Thursday that two Thai soldiers were injured by a landmine while conducting demining operations in the Ta Kwai Temple areaMeanwhile another Cambodian civilian was killed during the conflict on Thursday raising the civilian death toll in Cambodia to 31 said a press release from the Cambodian Ministry of DefenceThe Secretariat meeting will be held from Wednesday to Friday and if these preliminary discussions proceed smoothly they will be followed by a meeting between the defence ministers of both nations on Saturday said Thai Ministry of Defence spokesperson Surasant Kongsiri on WednesdayThe new wave of conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its third week Along the more than 800km border military skirmishes had erupted almost daily creating a tugofwar at multiple points and affecting seven border provinces in Thailand Over 800000 residents found their daily lives disrupted with dozens of soldiers and civilians confirmed deadCurrently the conflict has escalated beyond military action to a multifaceted rivalry of information and diplomatic maneuvering at the government level with the ceasefire process hampered by various factors IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/thailand-cambodia-border-talks-enter-second-day-as-clashes-ease-655677.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 18:49:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/groundless-and-irresponsible-china-slams-us-report-says-it-sows-discord-with-india-655689.html Beijing Dec 25 China on Thursday said that it firmly opposes a Pentagon report that distorts Beijings defence policies and drives a wedge between China and other countries including India to justify its own attempt to maintain military hegemony The Pentagons report distorts Chinas defence policy sows discord between China and other countries and aims at finding a pretext for the US to maintain its military supremacy China firmly opposes the report said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian at a daily press briefing in response to a question on a US report that said China probably seeks to capitalize on decreased tensions along the border with India to prevent the deepening of USIndia tiesThe spokesperson mentioned that Beijing views its relationship with New Delhi from a strategic and longterm perspectiveChina views and handles its relations with India from a strategic height and a longterm perspective We stand ready to strengthen communication enhance mutual trust promote cooperation and properly handle differences with India and advance a sound and stable bilateral relationshipThe boundary question is a matter between China and India and the current border situation between the two countries is generally stable with smooth communication channels China opposes relevant countrys groundless and irresponsible comments he addedAccording to a new US Defence Department report China continues to prepare for possible military confrontation with India along the Line of Actual Control even as both sides pursue diplomatic engagement to stabilise tiesThe report identifies Chinas Western Theatre Command as responsible for operations involving India It says the command is structured and trained for highaltitude conflict and border contingenciesIn 2024 Chinese forces conducted livefire drills and mobility exercises in mountainous terrain These activities were designed for combat in highaltitude and lowoxygen conditions according to the reportThe Pentagon assessment notes that China treats its territorial claims as core interests These claims it says are considered nonnegotiable by Beijing The report explicitly includes Indias Arunachal Pradesh within this frameworkAlthough India and China announced an agreement in October 2024 to disengage from remaining standoff points along the LAC the report urges caution It says the reduction in tension does not reflect a change in Chinas longterm military postureChinese leaders the report says likely seek to ease border friction to prevent closer strategic alignment between India and the United States At the same time Beijing continues to view USIndia defence cooperation with concernThe report points out that China remains wary of expanding US partnerships in the IndoPacific It sees these ties as limiting its strategic freedom including along its land bordersChinas broader military modernisation also has direct relevance for India The PLA is expanding its missile forces air power cyber units and spacebased surveillance These capabilities enable China to operate across multiple theatres simultaneouslyThe report notes that China has improved its ability to move forces quickly and sustain operations along its western frontier Logistics joint command structures and rapid mobilisation remain key focus areasWhile diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Beijing has increased the report stresses that mistrust remains deep It says both sides continue to view each other with suspicion particularly on security issuesChinas military activities along the India border the report concludes reflect preparation rather than reassurance Even amid talks and disengagement agreements the PLA continues to train for scenarios involving renewed confrontation IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/groundless-and-irresponsible-china-slams-us-report-says-it-sows-discord-with-india-655689.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 19:28:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/five-killed-in-helicopter-crash-on-mount-kilimanjaro-655690.html Dar Es Salaam Dec 25 Tanzanias Civil Aviation Authority TCAA on Thursday confirmed that five people were killed on Wednesday after a helicopter crashed at the Barafu Camp on Mount Kilimanjaro Africas highest mountain With deep regret the authority confirms that all five people on board lost their lives as a result of the accident the TCAA said in a statementPolice later identified the victims as two Czech tourists a Zimbabwean pilot a Tanzanian medical doctor and a Tanzanian mountain guide Xinhua news agency reportedThe Kilimanjaro regional police commander Simon Maigwa said the Airbus H125 owned by a Tanzanian company crashed Wednesday afternoon while on a rescue mission to evacuate the two Czech tourists after they experienced health problemsAn official investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances and cause of the crash the TCAA saidMount Kilimanjaro located in northern Tanzania is a major destination for climbers and tourists from around the worldEarlier this year the Tanzanian authorities had confirmed that they are preparing to introduce regulations for operating cable transport also known as cable car systems to boost the countrys tourism and transport infrastructureHabibu Suluo Director General of the Land Transport Regulatory Authority LATRA said that eight regions Dar es Salaam Arusha Tanga Coast Morogoro Mbeya Kilimanjaro and Iringa have been identified to operate cable transportCable transport will help tourists access tourist attractions located in mountainous areas within a short time he told a news conference in the port city of Dar es Salaam in April this yearSuluo said LATRA which regulates railway and road transport in the country has also been mandated to regulate cable transportAccording to Suluo the proposed cable transport will be introduced in Tanzania on Africas highest peak Mount Kilimanjaro in mountainous regions such as Mbeya and Iringa and in congested regions including Arusha and Dar es SalaamSuluo dismissed concerns that the introduction of cable transport on Mount Kilimanjaro will result in job losses for porters who assist climbers saying the technology is intended to complement and not replace IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/five-killed-in-helicopter-crash-on-mount-kilimanjaro-655690.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 19:29:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/yemeni-govt-backs-saudi-push-to-defuse-tensions-in-southern-provinces-655701.html Aden Dec 25 Yemens internationallyrecognised government on Thursday backed Saudi Arabias call to ease tensions in the countrys southern regions as military movements by the Southern Transitional Council STC continue to strain the antiHouthi alliance In a statement carried by the staterun Saba news agency the Yemeni government welcomed what it described as Saudi Arabias clear balanced and responsible stance toward the latest developments in Hadramout and AlMahrah provincesThe government warned that any security or military actions taken outside state authority and without coordination with the Presidential Leadership Council PLC the government or local authorities represent an unacceptable source of tension and impose additional burdens on the warravaged countrySaudi Arabias Foreign Ministry said earlier Thursday that recent STC troop deployments in the two southern Yemeni provinces constituted an unjustified escalation that undermines Yemeni interests and complicates Saudi Arabialed coalition effortsRiyadh announced that a joint SaudiEmirati military delegation had arrived in Aden to coordinate with the STC on withdrawing its forces from the areas in an orderly and timely manner and transferring military camps to governmentaffiliated or local forcesTensions escalated on December 3 when STC forces took control of Hadramout after clashes with progovernment units accusing them of maintaining ties to the Muslim Brotherhood The STC also criticised the PLC for failing to launch a serious campaign against the Houthi groupSTC forces then expanded into AlMahrah without reported resistance and have since recruited local forces in both provinces despite repeated deescalation calls from the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia Xinhua news agency reportedLater STC forces launched a new largescale military operation in the southern province of AbyanEarlier this week the STC gained allegiance from more than a dozen ministers within the central government Meanwhile eight southern provinces under STC control endorsed growing calls for the STCs separationAmid the STCs expanding military presence in several strategic provinces Saudi Arabia has suspended the issuance of permits for ships to enter the STCcontrolled port of AdenYemen has been mired in conflict since 2014 when Houthi forces captured Sanaa and large swathes of the north prompting a Saudiled coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationallyrecognised governmentFormed in 2017 the STC seeks selfdetermination and eventual independence for southern Yemen Despite joining the Saudiled coalition and integrating into the PLC in 2022 the group continues to push for southern sovereignty leading to recurring disputes over powersharing and control of resourcesThe STC has accused previous Yemeni governments of marginalising the south politically and economically which Yemeni authorities have rejected as they continuously stress the importance of territorial unity IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/yemeni-govt-backs-saudi-push-to-defuse-tensions-in-southern-provinces-655701.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 20:11:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-police-arrest-man-for-alleged-iranian-espionage-655705.html Jerusalem Dec 25 An Israeli citizen has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran the Israel Police said Thursday in a statement The suspect identified as 40yearold Vadim Kuprianov from the central city of Rishon LeZion was arrested by an elite police unit in cooperation with the Shin Bet domestic security agency the statement saidPolice said Kuprianov was spotted taking photographs near the home of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as part of his alleged contacts with Iranian operatives who had instructed him to purchase a vehiclemounted camera for the task Xinhua news agency reportedOver the past two months Kuprianov reportedly carried out a series of securityrelated missions sending photos of locations in various cities to his handlers in exchange for payments police saidAn indictment will be filed against him in a central district court following the investigation the statement addedAn Israeli delegation had travelled to Cairo on Wednesday for talks with mediators on implementing the ceasefire with Hamas with a focus on securing the return of the body of the last Israeli hostage believed to be held in Gaza Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office saidThe meetings focused on efforts and operational details to secure the return of the body of the slain hostage Master Sgt Ran Gvili the statement saidThe delegation was led by Gal Hirsch Israels coordinator for hostages and missing persons and included representatives from the military the Shin Bet domestic security agency and the Mossad intelligence serviceSince the ceasefire took effect on October 10 Hamas has released all 20 living captives and returned 27 bodies Gvili an officer with the Yasam special riotcontrol unit of the Israel Police is the only body Israel says remains in GazaHamas and the allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad group have said they have been unable to locate Gvilis body despite searches at multiple sites in eastern GazaUnder the ceasefire deal Israel has released around 2000 Palestinians from its prisons and returned the bodies of hundreds of deceased PalestiniansIsraels stateowned Kan broadcaster citing US officials reported that a USbacked peace plan is expected to move to a second phase in January which would include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza the establishment of an interim governing authority and the deployment of an international stabilization force IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/israeli-police-arrest-man-for-alleged-iranian-espionage-655705.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 20:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/beijing-in-terror-spotlight-over-oppression-of-uyghur-movement-655709.html New Delhi Dec 25 Beijing has largely remained outside the direct spotlight of terror outfits but a recent report on alQaidaâs threat has added a volatile security dimension for China Allegations of atrocities against the Uyghur community in Xinjiang province remain one of the most pressing human rights issues globally with reports from international human rights organisations and even the United Nations detailing systemic repressionThe threat to China in connection with the Uyghur Muslim situation there apparently was released recently in a Telegram message quoting the chief of alQaida in the Arabian Peninsula Atef alAwlakiThe statement is said to have celebrated the attacks on Jews and Americans and warned China that its policies toward Uyghurs were under its watchThe statement pledged retaliation against Chinese interests âon land and seaâ if abuses continued against the Uyghurs a Turkic Muslim minority in Chinaâs Xinjiang provinceAmong Beijingâs Afghan outreach lies this aspect too Afghanistanâs role â with the Taliban in control of Kabul and the countryâs proximity to Xinjiang â is considered important for ChinaSince the Talibanâs return to power in 2021 Beijing has sought closer ties driven by security concerns and economic interests However Afghanistanâs ability to help China is limited by its own instability and ideological contradictionsWhile Beijing may secure shortterm cooperation the deeper grievances of Uyghurs remain unresolved Incidentally radical Islamist groups like AlQaida and ISIS consider the present Taliban as being too soft in their âjihadâ and have criticised them for preferring an easier life in governance than on the battlefieldIn fact there have been some heavy fights as well The Wakhan Corridor situated in Afghanistanâs Badakhshan Province connects the region where the Uyghur ethnic group is demanding an independent state for themselves This autonomous region in northwest China borders several Central Asian countriesBeijing seeks Kabulâs cooperation as a security buffer with Uyghur separatists having alleged bases in AfghanistanChina is reportedly pressing the Taliban to crack down on the Uyghursâ East Turkestan Islamic Movement ETIM which Beijing labels a terrorist organisationThe ETIM considers China as an occupier as it intends to liberate itself through an armed uprising Since 2017 reports have surfaced of mass detentions forced labour and cultural erasure in what China calls âvocational training centresâ of the regionChina insists it has indulged in retaliatory measures with counterterrorism exercise against separatist groups like the ETIM which are denounced by rights groupsA UN OHCHR Report in 2022 found âserious human rights violationsâ that may constitute crimes against humanity Reports highlight the arbitrary detention of over one million Uyghurs the suppression of religious practices and the stateâs surveillance and indoctrination campaigns aimed at erasing their identityThe purported alQaida statement marks a shift where it has largely prioritised the US and Israel but the Uyghur issue now seems to have drawn its attention However in March 2017 ISIS released a video showcasing Uyghur armed rebels among its organisationThe video had also threatened China with violent retaliation reportedly showing the execution of an alleged informant by the Uyghur militantsA commentary earlier this year in Defence One a media partner of the 2025 Global Security Forum had commented âNow in 2025 there is less doubt that China is in the crosshairs of transnational terror groups Capable and determined violent nonstate actors could give China trouble in various hotspots around the world â in Syria Afghanistan Pakistan and elsewhereâIn conclusion it said âBeijing was once suspected of overhyping its terror threat but no longer As China continues to expand its Belt and Road Initiative with Chinese personnel and infrastructure expanding across the globe there will likely be more incidents of kidnapping for ransom terrorist attacks and other actions targeting a growing Chinese presence abroadâChinese projects and their nationals involved in such programmes in Afghanistan and Pakistan have experienced such attacks in the past IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/beijing-in-terror-spotlight-over-oppression-of-uyghur-movement-655709.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 20:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-krishnamoorthi-warns-of-worsening-violence-in-bangladesh-655563.html Washington Dec 24 An influential American Congressman has expressed deep concern over what he described as a steadily deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh warning that continued violence and attacks on minorities could further destabilise the country unless urgent corrective steps are taken âIâm deeply concerned about the security situation in Bangladesh I think that it has deterioratedâ Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi told IANS in an interviewâUnfortunately it was not good even after the change in government and now itâs worseâ he said amidst reports of deteriorating human rights conditions and increasing violence in this South Asian countryHe said a growing lawandorder vacuum had allowed violent groups to operate with impunity âInto that vacuum have unfortunately emerged different violent groups that have carried out their own form of violenceâ he saidKrishnamoorthi said he was especially troubled by attacks on religious minorities particularly Hindus âOne group of people that Iâm especially concerned about are Hindus and minorities in Bangladeshâ he said linking the poor security environment to âhorrible appalling killingsâ reported in recent daysResponding to questions about why the situation has continued to worsen more than a year after a change in government he pointed to widespread instability âI think thereâs generalised violence against numerous people unfortunatelyâ he saidHe cited a recent killing that he said underscored the severity of the crisis âWhen you have such a horrible security situation then you have a situation like what we saw the other day where a man was basically murdered for his religion namely a Hinduâ he saidKrishnamoorthi welcomed recent arrests but said they were not enough âIâm glad that they arrested something like a dozen people following this brutal murderâ he said adding that authorities âneed to do more and they need to do it fastââIf they donât then people will not be held accountable and the killing will continueâ he warnedAsked whether the United States could play a role Krishnamoorthi said Washington and other governments should keep pressing Dhaka on security and minority protection âThe US should constantly remind Bangladesh as well as other countries that we want you to succeed and we are willing to help youâ he saidâBut you also have to make sure that minorities are protected that the security situation is improved and that everybody can operate with some level of safetyâ he addedHe warned that failure to restore public safety could open space for extremist forces âAnything is possibleâ he said calling on authorities to crack down on âany violent extremists of any kindââYou canât have an economy that works for everybody if people donât feel public safetyâ Krishnamoorthi said describing protection of minorities as âa basic tenet of good governmentâBangladesh has faced periodic international scrutiny over political violence and minority rights particularly during periods of political transitionThe United States and other partners have repeatedly urged Bangladeshi authorities to uphold the rule of law and protect vulnerable communities as central to longterm stability IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-congressman-krishnamoorthi-warns-of-worsening-violence-in-bangladesh-655563.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 07:24:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/ten-killed-as-blast-rips-through-mosque-in-nigeria-655564.html Borno Nigeria Dec 25 An explosion tore through a mosque in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri the capital of Borno state during evening prayers killing at least ten worshippers according to local media reports The incident which occurred on Wednesday evening has once again raised fears over renewed militant violence in a region that has endured years of insurgencyNo armed group has claimed responsibility for the blast so farMilitia leader Babakura Kolo described the incident as a suspected bombing even as officials pointed out that militants have previously targeted mosques and crowded public places in Maiduguri using suicide bombers and improvised explosive devicesAccording to witnesses the explosion occurred inside a crowded mosque located in the Gamboru Market area where Muslims had gathered for evening prayersThe sudden blast caused panic and chaos with worshippers scrambling for safety amid debris and smokeKolo said preliminary assessments suggested that the explosive device may have been planted inside the mosque and detonated midway through the prayer serviceHowever some witnesses claimed the explosion could have been caused by a suicide bomber though this has not been officially confirmed by authorities local media reports suggestMaiduguri is the capital of Borno state which has been at the centre of a prolonged insurgency led by jihadist groups Boko Haram and its offshoot the Islamic State West Africa ProvinceWhile the wider region has frequently witnessed violence the city itself has not experienced a major attack in recent years making the incident particularly alarming for residents and security agenciesBoko Haram launched its insurgency in Borno state in 2009 with the objective of establishing an Islamic caliphateDespite years of sustained military operations by Nigerian forces and regional cooperation involving neighbouring countries sporadic attacks continue to pose a serious threat to civilians across northeastern NigeriaNigeria has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency since 2009 a conflict that has claimed at least 40000 lives and displaced around two million people in the countryâs northeast according to estimates by the United NationsThe humanitarian toll has been immense with communities repeatedly uprooted by violenceAlthough the intensity of attacks has declined compared to the peak of the conflict a decade ago the violence has spread beyond Nigeriaâs borders into neighbouring Niger Chad and Cameroon further complicating regional security effortsConcerns are now growing over a possible resurgence of violence in parts of northeastern Nigeria as insurgent groups remain capable of carrying out deadly attacks despite years of sustained military pressure and counterinsurgency operations IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/ten-killed-as-blast-rips-through-mosque-in-nigeria-655564.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 07:53:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-warns-seouls-nuclear-powered-submarine-plan-will-worsen-instability-655567.html Seoul Dec 25 North Korean leader Kim Jongun has said South Koreas plan to build nuclearpowered submarines will worsen the instability in the region calling Seouls move a threat to the Norths national security according to state media on Thursday Kim made the remarks during an onsite inspection of an 8700ton nuclearpowered strategic guided missile submarine under construction reports Yonhap quoting the Korean Central News Agency KCNAThe North Korean leader referred to Seouls plan to build nuclearpowered submarines saying it will worsen the instability in the region of the Korean Peninsula and DPRK regards it as an offensive act severely violating its security and maritime sovereigntyDPRK refers to the official name of North Korea the Democratic Peoples Republic of KoreaHe also said it represents a threat to its security that must be counteredKim reaffirmed that the country will maintain its national security policy and principle of deterring the enemyIt is needed to make the enemy understand with no doubt that they will be surely forced to pay a dear price when they violate the security of the DPRKs strategic sovereignty and that they will face a merciless retaliatory attack if they try to select a military option he saidThe DPRK will continue to show such capabilities and this goes just as the responsible exercise of the true nuclear war deterrent and a reliable shield for defending sovereignty Kim notedThe leader also said its nuclear forces are aimed at permanently ensuring the peaceful environment and absolute security of the country calling the new nuclear submarine an epochmaking crucial change in the war deterrent levelHe also affirmed the strategic and tactical policy to steadily push forward with the nuclear weaponisation of the navyThursdays KCNA report suggests the country is developing a nuclearpowered submarine equipped with guided missiles a project it first unveiled in March citing a decision made at a party congressKim claimed that attack destroyers and nuclear submarines under construction will make a leap forward in bolstering up the combat capabilities of our fleetsHe also vowed to increase and expand the speed and scale of building various surface and underwater warships and continuously equip them with different offensive weapon systemsDuring the inspection the leader also reviewed research on new underwater secret weapons under development and unveiled a strategic plan for reorganising the naval forces and establishing new units the KCNA said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/north-koreas-kim-warns-seouls-nuclear-powered-submarine-plan-will-worsen-instability-655567.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 08:23:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/jordan-launches-airstrikes-on-suspected-drug-networks-along-syrian-border-655568.html Amman Dec 25 Jordan carried out a series of airstrikes in southern Syrias Sweida province targeting suspected drug smuggling networks and storage sites near the border Syrian media and a rights monitor reported Syrian staterun Ikhbariya TV said the raids late on Wednesday local time hit drug storage locations and a weapons facility used by armed smuggling gangs It added that a former Syrian army outpost recently repurposed for narcotics storage was also destroyed reports Xinhua news agencyBritainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported multiple strikes in border areas and observed intensive aircraft activityIn a statement the Jordanian Armed Forces confirmed it has neutralised a number of arms and drug traffickers along the northern border of Jordan and targeted a number of factories and workshops used by these groups as hideouts for crossborder smuggling operations toward Jordan without specifying the locationsJordan has intensified military operations along its northern border in recent years many of which through drones are cited as growing threats from drug and weapons trafficking networksA year after Syrias political transition Jordan continues to grapple with security threats along its northern border with experts pointing to persistent smuggling activities and regional instability as ongoing concernsJordanian military and strategic analyst Nidal Abu Zeid told Xinhua in a recent interview that despite improvements security concerns along Jordans northern frontier remainThe geographic nature of the border between Jordan Syria and Iraq which extends across rugged and sparsely populated terrain makes full control a continuous challenge Abu Zeid saidSmuggling operations have increasingly shifted to more isolated and uncoordinated attempts he notedPublic law professor and political analyst Muath Abu Dalou told Xinhua that Jordan is closely monitoring developments in southern Syria The continued activity of smugglers and armed groups requires Jordan to maintain a high level of vigilanceMany Jordanian experts have linked longterm border security directly to Syrias stability and unity as Jordan shares a border of some 375 km with SyriaSyria entered a political transition in December 2024 following the collapse of the former government after years of conflict Over the past year the country has witnessed a gradual reopening of public institutions a partial return of services in major cities and diplomatic outreach with regional and international actorsHowever large parts of the country continue to face reconstruction challenges particularly in areas heavily damaged during the conflict while security incidents persist along the border regions IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/jordan-launches-airstrikes-on-suspected-drug-networks-along-syrian-border-655568.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 08:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-wishes-everyone-warm-christmas-pledges-to-improve-their-lives-655571.html Seoul Dec 25 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday wished everyone a warm Christmas and vowed to do his best to improve peoples lives in the coming year In a Christmas message posted on his official Facebook page Lee wrote I hope you all have a joyful day today with your loved onesI will do my best to bring warmth and hope to everyones daily lives in the new year he addedThe president also reflected on the meaning of Christmas noting that Jesus Christ spent his life with those who were suffering and sickI think his life represents the true meaning of Christmas that we should all remember he saidLee wished everyone a meaningful Christmas a day when people find comfort and courage to move forward Yonhap news agency reportedChristmas marks the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ and is observed every year on December 25 It is a global festival known for its themes of hope peace forgiveness and loveThe history of Christmas goes back many centuries and reflects a blend of Christian beliefs and ancient winter traditions Christmas is celebrated on 25 December to mark the birth of Jesus Christ whom Christians believe to be the Son of God However the Bible does not mention the exact date of Jesusâ birth Early Christians chose this date to align with existing winter festivals that were already widely celebratedIn ancient Rome festivals like Saturnalia were held in late December to celebrate the winter solstice a time when days began to grow longer again These festivals included feasting giftgiving and joyful gatherings Similarly many European cultures celebrated the return of light during the darkest time of the year Over time Christian leaders adopted and reinterpreted these traditions to help spread ChristianityBy the 4th century Christmas was officially recognised as a Christian festival As it spread across Europe and later to other parts of the world local customs blended with religious practices Traditions such as decorating evergreen trees exchanging gifts singing carols and celebrating with family gradually became part of Christmas celebrationsToday Christmas is celebrated not only as a religious occasion but also as a cultural festival that promotes values of love peace generosity and togetherness across different communities worldwide IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-wishes-everyone-warm-christmas-pledges-to-improve-their-lives-655571.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 09:09:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-fans-anti-india-narrative-in-bangladesh-to-rig-feb-polls-intelligence-inputs-655577.html New Delhi Dec 25 The ISIâs role in attempting to fan an antiIndia sentiment in Bangladesh is most certainly confirmed given the rhetoric by some Pakistan news outlets and a few leaders Some media outlets have recklessly blamed Indiaâs Research and Analysis Wing RAW for the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi The claim has been made at a time when the Bangladesh authorities themselves are unclear about the killers and their motive Adding to the fire is a fiery video message by Kamran Sayeed Usmani a leader of Pakistanâs ruling party PMLN who went on an antiIndia rhetoricWhile blaming New Delhi for the mess in Bangladesh he threatens that missiles would be directed at India Officials say that these are reckless messages only aimed at ensuring that the violence continues in BangladeshThe official further pointed out that there is a pattern to such messaging The intention is to internationalise the domestic problems in Bangladesh and by dragging India into it these elements are trying to achieve just that Not a single country except Pakistan has blamed India for the mess that is on in Bangladesh In fact it was the Pakistan deepstate that orchestrated this mess by first ensuring that Sheikh Hasina was ousted and the JamaateIslami was in the driverâs seat The international community is aware that the Jamaat is a puppet of the ISIFollowing the Liberation War it was the ISI and Jamaat which planned largescale illegal immigration into India so that demographic changes could be executed Intelligence Bureau officials who are keeping a close watch on the developments in Bangladesh say that the ISI is playing two games herePakistan has been desperately seeking revenge against India since it lost the 1971 war which led to the creation of Bangladesh Hence there has been the manufacturing of a false narrative so that the people of Bangladesh are pitted against IndiaThe ISI realises that it would need a Jamaat government or one backed by it to be in power Parties like the Bangladesh National Party BNP have been showing signs of moving away from the Jamaat and ISI as the party wants a developed and not a radical nationThe signs became clear when the BNP distanced itself from the Jamaat and decided to contest the elections on its ownThis shift has hurt the ISI and made it insecure as the BNP does have every chance of winning the elections Pollsters have predicted a win for the BNP in the absence of the Awami League which has been banned from contesting the electionsFormer Prime Minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia is unwell and this could well be a sympathy factor for the party in the February 2026 polls The BNP cadre will also be bolstered by the return of Ziaâs son Tarique Rehman who is set to visit Bangladesh after 17 years in exileAll these factors have made the ISI and Jamaat uneasy and they feel that the elections can slip out of their handBangladesh watchers say that the elections are unlikely to be put off as pressure from the international community is building up Experts say that the elections in Bangladesh are most likely to go as per schedule but the fairness of it remains a question markIntelligence agencies say that the violence is being fanned by the Jamaatcontrolled groups so that the people do not come out and vote in large numbers They want to create fear in the minds of the people so that they stay indoors when the elections are onMany Awami League supporters are unlikely to vote as the party is banned Some are likely to shift their loyalties to the BNP and if this does happen then the partyâs chances of winning the elections will only increaseAnalysts say that there is either a chance of a short postponement of the elections or a completely unfair one being conductedThe ISI is doing everything possible to rig the polls by inciting violence While trying to rig the polls the ISI is also dishing out a false narrative to create an antiIndia sentiment among the people IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/isi-fans-anti-india-narrative-in-bangladesh-to-rig-feb-polls-intelligence-inputs-655577.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 09:59:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-fuelling-religious-extremism-in-bangladesh-to-avenge-1971-defeat-claims-sindhi-leader-655584.html Berlin Dec 25 Shafi Burfat Chairman of the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz JSMM on Thursday accused Pakistan of engineering religious hatred in Bangladesh to push the country towards civil war and fragmentation He described it as a conspiracy aimed at seeking revenge for Pakistans historic defeat during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation WarBurfat alleged that Bangladeshs interim governments chief advisor Muhammad Yunus installed and backed by global powers is governing not through a democratic mandate but through external patronage reflecting an arrangement shaped by international strategic interests rather than the will of the Bangladeshi peopleHe claimed that in collusion with Pakistans InterServices Intelligence ISI Yunus is deliberately working to delay elections by fostering religious extremism within Bangladesh and spreading hatred against Hindus and IndiaThis strategy is aimed at prolonging his grip on power by dividing the Bangladeshi people along HinduâMuslim lines This is not an internal phenomenon but a calculated conspiracy orchestrated by Pakistan Pakistan seeks revenge for its historic defeat at the hands of the Bengali nation in 1971 To achieve this it is pushing Bangladesh toward religious extremism and terrorism to destabilise fragment and weaken the country Burfat posted on XAccording to the Sindhi leader the Pakistani military establishment and the terror group ISI are actively inciting the radical Islamist party JamaateIslami and other extremist religious groups inside Bangladesh against IndiaHe asserted that the Pakistani military and the ISI are once again exploiting religious forces in Bangladesh just as they did in 1971 pushing them into playing a treasonous role against BangladeshisThe consequences of this conspiracy are deeply alarming It will not only weaken and fracture Bangladesh but will also fuel the spread of religious extremism and terrorism across the region As a result regional peace political stability and economic development will be placed under severe threat pushing South Asia toward greater insecurity and longterm instability Burfat statedThe Sindhi leader urged the United Nations and the international powers to take serious notice of Pakistans reckless destabilising and rogue role in the current situationHe said that the global communitys attention must be urgently drawn to the deteriorating conditions in BangladeshAt present Pakistan acting on signals and encouragement from global powers is irresponsibly attempting to use Bangladesh as a proxy placing a gun on Bangladeshs shoulder to provoke and confront India In doing so Pakistan is displaying dangerous negligence and strategic adventurism he addedBurfat stated that in an effort to sabotage the democratic process in Bangladesh Pakistan is actively seeking to extend the tenure of the imposed Muhammad Yunusled interim government by fomenting chaos unrest and the conditions for internal conflict and civil war IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-fuelling-religious-extremism-in-bangladesh-to-avenge-1971-defeat-claims-sindhi-leader-655584.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/senior-is-commander-arrested-in-joint-operation-by-syria-us-led-coalition-655592.html Damascus Dec 25 Syrian security forces arrested a senior leader of the Islamic State IS group during a security operation in the countryside of Damascus Syrian state media reported Citing an Interior Ministry source staterun SANA news agency on Wednesday local time said that the operation carried out in coordination with the General Intelligence Service and a USled international coalition targeted an IS hideout in the city of alMoadamiya in Rural Damascus after intensive surveillance and intelligence monitoring reports Xinhua news agencyAhmad alDallati head of internal security in Rural Damascus province said the operation resulted in the arrest of the groups top leader in Damascus identified as Taha alZoubi also known as Abu Omar Tabiya along with several of his aidesAlDallati said security forces also seized an explosive suicide belt and militarygrade weaponry during the operation describing the raid as a major blow to IS networks operating in and around the countrys capitalHe stressed that Syrian authorities will continue pursuing IS remnants warning that anyone involved in terrorism or providing support to the group will be held accountableThe operation comes amid heightened security efforts across Syria following a series of attacks in recent weeks targeting security forces and civiliansAlso on Wednesday Syrian security forces conducted an operation in the coastal province of Latakia killing three members of an armed groupEarlier in August USled coalition forces carried out an airborne raid on a house in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib killing a man reportedly an Islamic State commanderSyrias state TV channel alIkhbariya reported that coalition troops surrounded the house in the town of Atmeh before storming it The man attempted to escape by jumping from a balcony into the garden but was shot dead Coalition units then searched the house confiscated cell phones and electronic devices and questioned the landlord The victims body was later taken to Bab alHawa hospital the report had added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/senior-is-commander-arrested-in-joint-operation-by-syria-us-led-coalition-655592.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:42:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/honduras-electoral-authority-declares-nasry-asfura-constitutional-president-655596.html Tegucigalpa Dec 25 Honduras National Electoral Council CNE said that National Party candidate Nasry Asfura was elected the countrys constitutional president in the general elections held on November 30 According to official CNE data Asfura won 4027 per cent of the vote followed by the candidate of the Liberal Party Salvador Nasralla who garnered 3953 per cent of all ballots and Rixi Moncada from the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party who obtained 1919 per cent of the voteThe CNEs announcement was made 24 days after the election day following postponements due to malfunctions in the votecounting system claimed by relevant authorities and allegations of irregularities by several political actors who claimed that these could constitute electoral fraud reports Xinhua news agencyBefore the election day US President Donald Trump endorsed Asfura and suggested that US aid to Honduras could be withheld if Asfura did not winOn December 9 Honduran President Xiomara Castro condemned what she described as external interference in the countrys elections saying the electoral process was marked by threats coercion and manipulation She specifically criticised Trumps involvement and comments as undermining Honduran sovereignty and democratic normsEarlier Former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya had also accused US President Donald Trump of foreign interference in Honduras presidential elections after Trump publicly backed the conservative National Partys candidate and pardoned another former president from the same partyZelaya who serves as the general coordinator of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party Libre questioned the early release from a US prison of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernandez who had served just two years of a 45year sentence for drug traffickingAccording to preliminary results from the National Electoral Council the election was virtually tied between the two rightofcentre candidates Nasry Asfura of the National Party and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party Zelaya had alleged that Trumps actions aimed to twist the popular will IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/honduras-electoral-authority-declares-nasry-asfura-constitutional-president-655596.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 11:56:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-punjab-road-deaths-jump-19-in-2025-as-nearly-4-800-killed-in-traffic-crashes-655611.html Islamabad Dec 25 At least 4791 people have lost their lives in road traffic crashes RTCs across Pakistans Punjab province in 2025 marking a sharp 19 per cent rise in fatalities compared to the previous year local media report citing data from the countrys emergency response service Rescue 1122 As per the annual statistics released by the emergency service Punjab recorded 482870 road traffic accidents in 2025 leaving nearly 570000 people injuredIn comparison 467561 accidents were reported in 2024 leading to 4139 deaths while 420387 crashes in 2023 resulted in 3967 fatalitiesThe data underscored a disturbing pattern as road traffic accidents increased by 58 per cent in 2025 compared to an 119 per cent rise in 2024 the deaths surged disproportionately signalling the growing severity of crashes leading Pakistani daily Express Tribune reportedEmergency Services Secretary Rizwan Naseer voiced concern over the findings while chairing an annual operational review meeting focused on road traffic crashesIn Pakistan a road traffic accident occurs almost every minute and tragically the primary victims are often the breadwinners of families Naseer said describing the situation in Punjab as extremely alarmingThe meeting was attended virtually by heads of various wings of the emergency services department the provincial monitoring officer and district emergency officers DEOsReports suggest that the statistics showed an increase in RTCs in 34 other districts across PunjabAccording to a briefing by the head of operations Lahore topped the list of road traffic accidents in 2025 with 88743 cases followed by Faisalabad with 32309 and Multan with 29804On the other hand Murree recorded 1889 accidents while Attock and Jhelum reported 3748 and 4301 crashes respectivelyAn analysis of road traffic accidents showed that motorcycles were responsible for 75 per cent of all cases followed by cars at 86 per cent and rickshaws at 47 per centAdditionally buses trucks and vans accounted for 43 per cent of the accidents while 74 per cent involved other types of vehiclesPedestrians made up 1034 per cent of road accident victims underscoring the dangers faced by those walking along or near busy roadsRescue 1122 data showed that the majority of injuries involved fractures and head injuries including 39250 cases of single fractures 19603 head injuries 8362 multiple fractures and 1125 spinal injuriesAmong the 569901 people injured in road crashes 806 per cent were men and 194 per cent were women IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-punjab-road-deaths-jump-19-in-2025-as-nearly-4-800-killed-in-traffic-crashes-655611.html Thu, 25 Dec 2025 13:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/yoon-denies-sending-drones-to-north-korea-to-justify-martial-law-655364.html Seoul Dec 23 Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday denied allegations he sent drones into North Korea to create a pretext for his failed martial law imposition citing his phone call with then US Presidentelect Donald Trump to back up his claim Yoon spoke before the court himself during a closeddoor hearing held to decide whether to extend his arrest on charges of benefiting the enemy and power abuse in connection with his alleged drone deployment to Pyongyang in October last yearThe ousted President has been held in custody since July on charges of obstructing justice by blocking his detention by investigators in January He is currently set to be released after his sixmonth arrest expires January 18 Yonhap news agency reportedSpecial counsel Cho Eunsuks team requested an extension of his arrest last month while additionally indicting him over the alleged drone operation which it claimed was aimed at inciting the Norths retaliation and using it as a pretext for the December 3 martial law declaration last yearDuring the hearing Yoon reportedly claimed that the charge of aiding the enemy cannot hold because he had received no reports of any drone operation or strike saying such actions would not have occurred without his knowledgeYoon also brought up the 10minute phone conversation he had with Trump in November last year following Trumps election Yoon said they discussed the Norths sending of trashcarrying balloons into the SouthYoon said he told Trump that his government was adhering to a policy of strategic patience over the balloons and would maintain that stance unless North Koreas provocations result in casualtiesYoons legal team argued that the drone allegations should be addressed in the separate ongoing trial over the martial law declarationThe special counsel said Yoon must remain in custody given the gravity of his alleged crimes and risks of him destroying evidence or fleeingChos team also argued that releasing a former president could have a significant impact on the trial given Yoons political influence It raised concern that Yoon could exert pressure on alleged accomplicesThe court requested both sides submit additional arguments in writing by next Tuesday The court is expected to make its decision on the arrest extension after that dayIn the event an extension is granted Yoon could be jailed for up to six more monthsA verdict on the obstruction of justice charge is set to be delivered January 16A separate trial is also under way on charges that Yoon led an insurrection through the imposition of martial law IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/yoon-denies-sending-drones-to-north-korea-to-justify-martial-law-655364.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:13:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-state-duma-speaker-blames-eu-biden-and-his-supporters-for-ukraine-conflict-655365.html Moscow Dec 23 Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on Tuesday blamed the European Union EU former US President Joe Biden and his supporters for the conflict in Ukraine local media reported At the last meeting of the fall session on Tuesday Vyacheslav Volodin said The EU Biden and his supporters are to blame for what is happening in Ukraine It is their fault that many innocent civilians died Their hands are stained with the peopleâs blood Russias leading news agency Tass reportedHe said that the culprits of the conflict are trying to retain their power by accusing Russia for everythingHe said But you and I understand that this is just an attempt to stay in power The people of European states will assess their work and just as in several other countries there will be changes because it will become impossible to portray Russia as the enemyVyacheslav Volodin said that Russia has never considered Europe its enemy and has always provided opportunities for development to itHe said Russia has never been an enemy of Europe It has helped Europe grow by supplying affordable energy making its economy more competitiveAccording to him some European leaders exploit the notion of a Russian threat to continue their grip on power Tass reported He further said It would be wise for European citizens to hold such politicians accountable The earlier they step down the sooner Europe will see improvementsOn December 19 Russian President Vladimir Putin termed the attempts being made by the European Union EU to seize Russian assets as robberyDuring his annual QampA session and the yearend press conference titled Results of the Year he said Stealing is not the right word Stealing is a covert theft of property But they are doing this openly Therefore it is robbery Why arenât they succeeding Because the consequences will be grave for the robbers What does this mean First it is difficult to accomplish They have not said that they will rob and seize One of their ideas is to issue a reparation loan secured by our assets What does issuing a loan mean It means consequences for the budgets of every country involved this will increase the budgetary debt of each country If a country issues a loan secured by our gold and currency assets this must be reflected in its budget Take France whose state debt has reached 120 per cent of GDP Our state debt is 177 per cent and theirs is 120 per cent It is true that our budget deficit is 26 per cent but it will go down to 16 per cent next year while Franceâs budget deficit is 6 per cent The new obligations will have to be added to the budget I believe they are having big problems with next yearâs budget All this is the reason why it is difficult to take decisions related to the robbery of someone elses assets he addedHe warned that seizure of Russian assets in Europe would undermine trust in the Euro zone as several nations like Russia keep their foreign reserves in Euro ZoneBut there will be graver consequences for those who might endeavour that This will not just be a blow to their image but this will subvert all the confidence in the Euro area since many countries store their foreign reserves in the Euro Zone Not only Russia does that but also those who have free reserves primarily oilproducing countries They will look at what is happening â they are already doing so and they will have suspicions doubts and fears he said IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russian-state-duma-speaker-blames-eu-biden-and-his-supporters-for-ukraine-conflict-655365.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/icg-ship-sarthak-hosts-saudi-officials-reaffirms-growing-momentum-in-maritime-ties-655371.html Riyadh Dec 23 Highlighting the growing maritime ties between India and Saudi Arabia Indian Coast Guard ICG Ship Sarthak and the Indian Embassy in Riyadh hosted an onboard reception for Saudi officials from the Royal Navy Border Guards and Port Authorities along with the Indian community on Tuesday In the spirit of friendship An onboard reception was hosted by ICGS Sarthak and Embassy of India for Saudi officials from the Royal Navy Border Guards and Port Authorities along with the Indian community reaffirming the shared IndiaâSaudi commitment to maritime security the Embassy of India in Riyadh posted on XMeanwhile Indian Charge dAffaires ad interim to Saudi Arabia Abu Mathen George visited ICGS Sarthak where he was briefed on its goodwill visit to Saudi Arabia led by Captain of the ship Deputy Inspector General DIG Thiam NewtonThe visit included inspection of the Ceremonial Guard a tour of the ship and interaction with the crewOn Monday as part of the goodwill visit of ICGS Sarthak a yoga session was organised on the deck of the ship which was attended by members of the Indian community and school childrenContinuing efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation the ICGS Sarthak delegation led by Captain of the ship Thiam Newton met Rear Admiral Sajer bin Rafeed Al Anezi Commander Eastern Fleet Royal Saudi Naval Forces and Rear Admiral Yasser bin Ali Al Numair Commander King Fahad Naval Academy at Saudi Arabiaâs Al JubailEarlier on Sunday during the port call at Saudi port city Dammam Captain Thiam Newton accompanied by Indian Defence Attache Colonel Sarabjeet Singh met Saudi officials including Major General Ali A AlAhmari Commander of Border Guards Eastern Region and Captain Fahad Ahmed AlAmer Director General at King Abdulaziz PortAccording to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh the discussions reaffirmed the growing momentum in IndiaâSaudi maritime cooperationICG Ship Sarthak sailed into King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam on Sunday for a fiveday goodwill visitOfficials of Border Guards Royal Saudi Naval Forces and Port Authorities received ICGS Sarthak at DammamStrengthening IndiaSaudi Arabia maritime security cooperation Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Sarthak sailed into King Abdulaziz Port Dammam in Saudi Arabia today on a 5day Goodwill Visit the Indian Embassy in Riyadh posted on X IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/icg-ship-sarthak-hosts-saudi-officials-reaffirms-growing-momentum-in-maritime-ties-655371.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:21:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/g20-named-word-of-2025-in-south-africa-655397.html Johannesburg Dec 23 The term G20 was the most frequently used word in South Africa in 2025 the Pan South African Language Board PanSALB said on Tuesday PanSALB an organisation mandated to promote multilingualism develop and preserve South Africas 12 official languages and protect language rights said it worked with a media research company to analyse frequency data and discovered that G20 featured prominently in the reputable print broadcast and online mediaThe selection process involved shortlisting candidates based on authentic language usage G20 emerged as the most dominant keyword largely due to South Africas role as the G20 presidency in 2025 and its hosting of the G20 Leaders Summit Xinhua News Agency reportedThe terms Government of National Unity and Tariffs ranked second and third respectively reflecting key political developments international engagements and socioeconomic debates that shaped the country during the year the agency addedSouth Africa recently hosted the 20th Group of 20 G20 Summit where world leaders reached a broad consensus on disaster resilience debt sustainability just energy transitions and critical minerals as they adopted the G20 South Africa Summits Leaders DeclarationThe announcement of the declarations adoption was made at the opening of the summit the first ever held in Africa The declaration warns that increasingly frequent and intense disasters and shocks are undermining development and overstretching response systems Leaders said they hinder progress towards sustainable development and strain both national capabilities and the international systems ability to respondThey called for integrated peoplecentered approaches and highlighted the need for strengthened disaster resilience and response particularly for vulnerable small island developing states and least developed countriesEnergy access and transition also featured prominently The declaration underscores stark inequalities noting that over 600 million Africans have no access to electricityThe leaders support efforts to triple global renewable capacity and double energyefficiency improvements by 2030 and emphasized the urgency of mobilizing scaledup investment and facilitating lowcost financing for developing countries in line with national circumstances They also highlighted the importance of voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed termsOn critical minerals the G20 endorsed a Critical Minerals Framework describing it as a voluntary guide for sustainable transparent stable and resilient critical minerals value chains that underpin industrialization and sustainable development IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/g20-named-word-of-2025-in-south-africa-655397.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:43:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/brazilian-president-lula-could-visit-india-next-month-sources-say-655400.html BrasiliaNew Delhi Dec 23 President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva could visit India early next year top sources indicated to IANS on Tuesday The visit which could materialise at the end of January or early February 2026 is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between India and BrazilIt is expected that India and Brazil will solidify ties in key areas such as trade investment defence cooperation energy agriculture and technology during the proposed visitBoth sides may also explore ways to deepen their strategic partnership India and Brazil are close partners on international platforms like BRICS and the G20 and global economic issues development concerns and cooperation among developing nations are also expected to be on the agenda However an official confirmation of the visit is still awaited a top official indicatedPrime Minister Narendra Modi met the Brazilian President on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in South Africas Johannesburg last month highlighting the continuous momentum in IndiaBrazil tiesIt is always a delight to meet President Lula India and Brazil will continue to work closely to boost trade and cultural linkages for the benefit of our people PM Modi posted on X along with photographs of him with Luiz Inacio Lula da SilvaPrime Minister Modi and President Lula have repeatedly reaffirmed the momentum generated during PM Modiâs visit to Brazil earlier this year while underscoring the shared commitment to deepen the IndiaBrazil Strategic PartnershipBoth leaders had met in BrasÃlia during PM Modis State Visit to the country in July which took place following his participation in the BRICS Summit in Rio de JaneiroBrazil had also conferred its highest honour the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross on Prime Minister Modi during his State Visit to the country The award was the 26th global honour for PM ModiDuring the landmark visit India and Brazil had agreed on a comprehensive framework to expand cooperation across key sectors including trade technology energy defence agriculture health and peopletopeople tiesAs they work on taking bilateral partnership to new heights both leaders have emphasised on having a peoplecentric approach to position India and Brazil as anchors of cooperation within the Global SouthIndia and Brazil play influential roles in multilateral platforms such as BRICS G20 and the UN with the strategic alignment carrying implications beyond bilateral ties touching on global governance climate action and equitable developmentPresident Lula who has long championed SouthSouth solidarity has expressed interest in leveraging Brazilâs agricultural and technological strengths to support mutual growth India meanwhile sees Brazil as a key partner in diversifying energy sources enhancing defence collaboration and promoting inclusive health initiatives IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/brazilian-president-lula-could-visit-india-next-month-sources-say-655400.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:45:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/cyclone-ditwah-affected-374-000-workers-across-sri-lanka-ilo-655402.html Colombo Dec 23 Around 374000 Sri Lankan workers are located in areas affected by floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah a preliminary employment assessment released by the International Labour Organization ILO said on Tuesday The ILO said potential earnings losses in the affected districts could reach about 48 million US dollars per month Informal and lowwage workers are particularly vulnerable as many lack access to adequate social protection and shockabsorbing safety nets it said Xinhua News Agency reportedThe organisation also noted that agriculture and related activities including plantations and fisheries have been severely hit Up to 23 per cent of ricecultivating land has been affected by the floods and the countrys worldfamous tea industry was estimated to suffer output losses as high as 35 per centIn the short term the ILO called for measures to sustain livelihoods such as providing emergency cash assistance and rolling out reliefrelated work opportunities such as debris removal and infrastructure reconstruction with wages sufficient to meet workers household needsThe organisation also urged support for micro small and mediumsized enterprises through grants and subsidies to help repair equipment restart operations and retain workersOn December 16 Sri Lanka reopened most government and governmentapproved private schools following school closures due to Cyclone Ditwah a senior official saidAccording to Ministry of Education Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa 9929 of the countrys 10076 schools reopened while 147 schools in three provinces remain closed due to ongoing emergency conditions These schools are in the Uva Central and North Western provinces which were most affected by Cyclone Ditwah he saidTo support students in disasteraffected areas the Sri Lanka Transport Board and the Sri Lanka Railway Department will provide free transport services for schoolchildren for the remainder of the yearMeanwhile the Ministry of Education has prohibited thirdterm examinations for students in Classes 6 to 10 for the 2025 academic yearThe second phase of the third school term in Sri Lanka was initially scheduled to begin on December 8 However the Ministry of Education postponed the reopening of schools due to the disaster situation caused by Cyclone Ditwah IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/cyclone-ditwah-affected-374-000-workers-across-sri-lanka-ilo-655402.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:47:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/protests-erupt-in-balochistan-over-enforced-disappearance-of-four-family-members-655407.html Quetta Dec 23 Several Baloch families on Tuesday staged a protest in Balochistans Kech district against the enforced disappearance of four members of the same family by Pakistani forces According to the human rights body Baloch Yakjehti Committee BYC the victims two women and two men identified as Fareed Ijaz Mujahid Dilwash Hani Dilwash and HairNisa Wahid were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani agenciesThe rights body stated that their families have taken to the streets of Tejaban village in Kech demanding the safe return of their loved onesâTheir protest is peaceful yet their voices are being ignored and no clear information has been given about where the missing family members are being held The families say they will not end their protest until all four are safely recovered They are calling on the people of Tejaban and nearby areas to stand with them and speak out against enforced disappearances a practice that has torn apart countless families across Balochistanâ the BYC posted on XCondemning the enforced disappearances the BYC expressed solidarity with the affected families Alongside this protest BYC has also begun a 5day campaign focusing on the growing disappearance of Baloch women aiming to raise awareness and demand accountability from those responsibleâWe urge human rights groups humanitarian organisations and all people of conscience not to remain silent and to take action against enforced disappearances in Balochistanâ it statedHighlighting the growing atrocities in Balochistan the Baloch Women Forum BWF on Tuesday said that over the last few months Pakistan has gradually worked to shape a psyche of normalisation around the abduction of Baloch women which it described as a deliberate attempt to hurt the societal sentimentsâIt is deliberate in a sense that the state institutions want to go against state and international laws treaties and conventions on human rights particularly womenâs rights by victimizing Baloch women of their basic rights including the very right to free and impartial trial â just like the Baloch men are suffering from â and want no mass reaction on ground to ensure global funds are not frozen for violating its international commitmentsâ the BWF notedThe forum called for immediate international interventions on the severe nature of crimes against the Baloch women on urgent and humanitarian bases IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/protests-erupt-in-balochistan-over-enforced-disappearance-of-four-family-members-655407.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:52:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-announces-sweeping-changes-to-h-1b-selection-process-655415.html Washington Dec 23 The Trump Administration on Tuesday announced sweeping changes to the H1B work visa selection process replacing the longstanding random lottery with a weighted system that prioritises higherskilled and higherpaid foreign workers The move Department of Homeland Security said is aimed at better protecting the wages working conditions and job opportunities of American workers while strengthening the integrity of the H1B nonimmigrant visa programâThe existing random selection process of H1B registrations was exploited and abused by US employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workersâ US Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser saidâThe new weighted selection will better serve Congressâ intent for the H1B program and strengthen Americaâs competitiveness by incentivising American employers to petition for higherpaid higherskilled foreign workersâ he saidUnder the new regulation H1B visas will no longer be awarded through a purely random draw as has been the practice over the past two decades Instead registrations will be ranked and selected through a weighted process that increases the probability that visas go to higherskilled and higherpaid foreign nationals while still allowing employers to petition for workers across all wage levels DHS said in a media releaseThe change is intended to curb what they described as systemic abuse of the lottery system in which some employers allegedly flooded the registration pool with lowerskilled lowerwage applications crowding out highervalue petitions and disadvantaging American workers it saidThe annual number of H1B visas remains capped at 65000 with an additional 20000 visas reserved for applicants holding advanced degrees from US institutions The new weighted selection rule will apply beginning with the fiscal year 2027 H1B cap registration season it said adding that the final rule will take effect on February 27DHS said the reform is a key step in aligning the H1B program more closely with congressional intent while addressing longstanding concerns raised by labour advocates and policymakers about wage suppression and misuse of the visa categoryOfficials stressed that the rule does not eliminate access to the H1B program for employers offering lower wages but shifts the balance toward petitions that reflect higher skill levels and compensationThe change is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to overhaul the H1B system which has been a flashpoint in US immigration and labour policy debates for yearsâIt is another crucial step to strengthen the integrity of the H1B nonimmigrant visa programâ DHS said pointing to other recent measures aimed at discouraging misuse of the visa categoryAmong those measures is a Presidential Proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional 100000 per visa as a condition of eligibility a move the administration says is designed to ensure that employers turn to foreign labour only when they genuinely need highly skilled workersâAs part of the Trump Administrationâs commitment to H1B reform we will continue to demand more from both employers and aliens so as not to undercut American workers and to put America firstâ Tragesser saidThe H1B visa program allows US employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in speciality occupations that typically require at least a bachelorâs degree or equivalent expertise The program is heavily used by the technology sector and has significant implications for skilled professionals from countries such as IndiaFor years critics of the lotterybased system have argued that it failed to distinguish between highvalue and lowvalue petitions encouraging gaming of the system and eroding public confidence in the programSupporters of reform have said changes such as weighted selection are necessary to restore credibility to the H1B program even as business groups have warned that overly restrictive policies could hurt innovation and competitiveness in the US economyThe H1B program has long been central to US efforts to attract global talent while also remaining one of the most politically contentious legal immigration pathways IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-announces-sweeping-changes-to-h-1b-selection-process-655415.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:58:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/yunus-celebrates-economic-independence-in-us-while-bdesh-remains-repressed-activist--655441.html Dhaka Dec 24 IANS Exiled Bangladeshi author and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen on Wednesday said that the interim governments chief advisor Muhammad Yunus tenure has been marked by grave and widespread human rights violations across the South Asian nationnbspSlamming Yunus on the human rights abuses in Bangladesh Nasreen took to her social media platform X and stated Credible reports indicate that mob violence lynching and communal attacks have occurred with alarming regularity often on a neardaily basis Under his watch women in Bangladesh are raped silenced intimidated and terrorised even as he lectures the international community on womens economic empowermentShe highlighted that Yunus founder of the New Yorkbased nonprofit microfinance organisation Grameen America has served as a Director and cochair and has received compensation from the organisation for at least the past four yearsHe flies first class collecting global accolades while profiting from the indebtedness of poor Hispanic and Black women in the United States through Grameen America While he speaks on global stages about empowering women entrepreneurs Bangladeshi garment workers are driven into destitution as factories are burned and livelihoods destroyed by forces aligned with his supporters she addedExpressing concern Nasreen stated that as Yunus celebrates economic independence in America women in Bangladesh are beaten coerced into hijab stripped of freedom of movement and denied even the most basic safety and dignity She said This is not empowerment but moral duplicityNasreen called on major donors to Grameen America to immediately reevaluate their support and on all governments funding the organisation to reconsider their positionsYunuss continued leadership raises profound ethical and legal concerns as his actions and inaction are enabling crimes that may amount to genocide against religious and ethnic minorities she stressedAdditionally she urged individuals institutions and funding bodies to formally contact Grameen America and all affiliated organisations to demand that they sever all ties with Yunus warning that silence and continued association constitute complicity in ongoing human rights abuses https://dailyworld.in/international/yunus-celebrates-economic-independence-in-us-while-bdesh-remains-repressed-activist--655441.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:37:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-supreme-court-blocks-trump-administration-from-deploying-national-guard-to-illinois-655448.html Washington Dec 24 The US Supreme Court blocked President Donald Trumps attempt to send the National Guard to the state of Illinois dealing a setback to the administration The court denied the Trump administrations request in a 63 vote Xinhua news agency reportedAt this preliminary stage the government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois the court said in an order published on its websiteThe dispute dates back to October 4 when Trump called 300 members of the Illinois National Guard into active federal service in Illinois particularly in and around Chicago The following day members of the Texas National Guard were also federalized and sent to Chicago according to the courtOn October 9 the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued a temporary restraining order barring the federalization and deployment of the National Guard in IllinoisThe decision was upheld on October 16 by the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit which allowed the administration to federalize the National Guard but not to deploy its membersThe Trump administration then appealed to the Supreme CourtWhite House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson reacting to the ruling said the president âactivated the National Guard to protect federal law enforcement officers and to ensure rioters did not destroy federal buildings and propertyâJB Pritzker the Democratic governor of Illinois who strongly opposed the deployment along with the Democratic mayor of Chicago welcomed the ruling calling it a âbig win for Illinois and American democracy IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-supreme-court-blocks-trump-administration-from-deploying-national-guard-to-illinois-655448.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-flag-risks-to-bangladesh-elections-655449.html Washington Dec 24 Raising alarm over a political party ban powerful US lawmakers have told Bangladeshâs interim government that free and fair elections cannot be held if political participation is restricted ahead of the February polls In a letter to Dr Mohammed Yunus Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Congressmen Gregory W Meeks Bill Huizenga and Sydney KamlagerDove urged the authorities to work across the political spectrum to restore confidence in democratic institutions The letter was cosigned by Representatives Julie Johnson and Thomas R SuozziâWe welcome your willingness to step forward at a moment of national crisis in Bangladesh to lead an interim government ahead of elections in February of next yearâ the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Yunus on TuesdayThey said it was âvital that the interim government work with parties across the political spectrum to create the conditions for free and fair elections that allow the voice of the Bangladeshi people to be expressed peacefully through the ballot box as well as reforms that restore confidence in the integrity and nonpartisanship of state institutionsâExpressing deep concern that such conditions could not be achieved âif the government suspends activities of political parties or again restarts the flawed International Crimes Tribunalâ Congressmen warned Yunus that these actions risk undermining trust in the electoral process at a critical momentNoting that the US Department of State and other international observers had concluded that Bangladeshâs 2018 and 2024 general elections âwere not free or fairâ the lawmakers in the twopage letter wrote that the credibility of the upcoming election would depend on whether the interim authorities demonstrated a clear break from practices that had drawn international criticismCiting a February factfinding report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights which estimated that security services killed 1400 people during protests in July and August 2024 the Congressmen wrote âGenuine accountability for these acts and others should model the values of Bangladeshâs democracy rather than continue a cycle of retaliationâ the letter saidA key concern of the lawmakers was the decision to suspend a political partys activities âFreedom of association as well as the principle of individual rather than collective criminal responsibility are fundamental human rightsâ they wrote The lawmakers said that fully suspending a party rather than holding individuals accountable through the due process of law was inconsistent with those principlesThey urged Yunus or an elected successor to revisit the decision stressing that inclusive participation was essential to restoring public trust âUltimately the Bangladeshi people deserve to be able to choose an elected government in a free and fair election in which all political parties can participate so that their voices are representedâ the lawmakers saidThe letter also underscored the broader bilateral context describing Bangladesh as âa critical partner for the United Statesâ The lawmakers said they stood ready to work with the interim government to support both the bilateral relationship and Bangladeshâs democratic transition in the months aheadIn a separate but related development Representative Thomas R Suozzi wrote to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking briefings on the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh Citing ârecent reports about the murder of Hindu minoritiesâ Suozzi raised concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws and asked that appropriate officials be made available to brief him so he could address the concerns of his BangladeshiAmerican constituents IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-flag-risks-to-bangladesh-elections-655449.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:02:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/20-us-states-warn-trumps-100k-h-1b-fee-threatens-schools-hospitals-655450.html Washington Dec 24 More than 20 US states on Tuesday moved to block the Trump administrationâs new 100000 fee on H1B visas warning that the measure would disrupt schools and hospitals nationwide and choke off a key pipeline of skilled foreign talent The legal challenge carries particular significance for Indian professionals who account for a dominant share of H1B visa holders and play a critical role across US healthcare education research and technology sectors especially in public institutions that states say cannot absorb the steep new costThe multistate amicus brief supporting plaintiffs in Global Nurse Force et al v Trump urged the US District Court for the Northern District of California to issue a preliminary injunction blocking the policy The brief argues the fee is unlawful and contrary to the public interest as it would worsen labour shortages weaken the economy and disrupt essential public servicesâThe Trump Administrationâs 100000 visa fee imposes unnecessary and unlawful financial burdens on public employers and will leave essential positions in critical sectors unfilledâ asserted California Attorney General Rob BontaâMy office has challenged this fee in court and today weâre supporting a related challenge We wonât stop fighting to protect our worldclass universities schools and hospitals which thrive by attracting and retaining skilled talent from around the worldâ he said in a statementThe Trump administration imposed the unprecedented fee on September 19 2025 applying it to new H1B petitions filed after September 21 Implemented through a series of Department of Homeland Security documents the policy grants the DHS secretary broad discretion to decide which petitions are subject to the fee or exempt a provision that states say raises concerns about selective enforcementH1B visas allow US employers to hire highly skilled foreign nationals in speciality occupations requiring at least a bachelorâs degree including physicians researchers nurses and educators While Congress caps most privatesector H1B visas at 65000 annually with an additional 20000 for advanced degree holders many government and nonprofit research institutions are exempt to ensure they can meet public service needsIn their plea the states argue the 100000 fee would effectively shut public employers out of the programmeThe United States faces a nationwide teacher shortage with 74 per cent of school districts reporting difficulty filling open positions in the 2024â2025 school year particularly in special education physical sciences bilingual education and foreign languages they arguedEducators are the thirdlargest occupational group among H1B holders with nearly 30000 working on the visas and close to a thousand colleges and universities relying on H1B personnel to support teaching and researchBecause Kâ12 schools colleges and universities are typically government or nonprofit entities the brief says they are incapable of absorbing an additional 100000 per hire States warn this would result in larger class sizes reduced course offerings and cuts to programmes undermining the quality of education and directly affecting studentsHospitals and healthcare systems would face similar consequences The brief notes that hospitals rely on H1B visas to recruit physicians surgeons and nurses often in lowincome and workingclass communities About 114 million Californiansâroughly one quarter of the stateâs populationâlive in areas with primary care shortages Nationwide nearly 23000 H1B physicians have worked in underserved communities over the yearsThe United States is projected to face a shortfall of 86000 physicians by 2036 as the population ages and demand for care rises States warn that a 100000 fee would make it financially impossible for many hospitals to hire new H1B healthcare workers forcing facilities to operate with inadequate staffing The brief cautions this could lead to longer wait times increased errors higher mortality rates and even hospital closuresâAt a time when many hospitals are already facing cuts in health insurance subsidies and reduced Medicaid payments a 100000 fee for H1B healthcare workers is simply not feasibleâ the states argueBeyond staffing shortages the brief highlights the broader economic impact of the programme noting that H1B workers and their dependents contribute an estimated 86 billion annually to the US economy and pay billions of dollars in federal state and local taxesIn filing the amicus brief Bonta was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona Colorado Connecticut Delaware the District of Columbia Hawaiâi Illinois Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington and WisconsinThe court challenge comes amid a broader Trump administration push to tighten legal immigration pathways For Indian professionals who make up a substantial share of new H1B applicants the outcome of the case could shape access to US publicsector jobs in healthcare education and research for years to come IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/20-us-states-warn-trumps-100k-h-1b-fee-threatens-schools-hospitals-655450.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:03:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-confirms-avian-influenza-outbreak-in-kyoto-655454.html Tokyo Dec 24 Japans agriculture ministry said on Wednesday that genetic testing has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a farm in Kyoto Prefecture marking the ninth bird flu outbreak in the country this season According to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries the outbreak occurred at a poultry farm in Kameoka City Kyoto Prefecture which raises approximately 280000 egglaying chickensLocal authorities received a report on Tuesday and conducted a rapid avian influenza test on the farms chickens the same day with the results coming back positive Genetic testing carried out on Wednesday confirmed infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virusIn accordance with relevant guidelines all chickens at the farm will be culled incinerated and buried Additionally farms within a 3kilometre radius are banned from moving chickens and eggs while others located within a radius of 3 to 10 kilometres cannot transport poultry products outside the areaDisinfection efforts around the farm have been strengthened to prevent further spread of the virus and an epidemiological investigation team has been dispatched with experts from the ministry to be sent if necessary according to the statement Xinhua news agency reportedJapans avian influenza season typically runs from autumn until the following spring The previous eight outbreaks this season have already led to the culling of nearly 24 million chickens The countrys first case was confirmed in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on October 22Avian influenza also known as bird flu is a type of zoonotic or animal influenza that affects wild birds and poultry and is caused by virus subtypes AH5N1 AH9N2 Avian influenza has occasionally infected humans however it does not easily transmit between humans The majority of human cases of avian influenza have been associated with direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/japan-confirms-avian-influenza-outbreak-in-kyoto-655454.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-origin-woman-murdered-in-toronto-manhunt-underway-for-suspect-655455.html Toronto Dec 24 A 30yearold Indianorigin woman was found murdered in Toronto prompting police to issue a Canadawide arrest warrant for a suspect they say was known to the victim according to local media reports citing law enforcement officials The woman has been identified as Himanshi Khurana Toronto Police are searching for Abdul Ghafoori 32 also a resident of Toronto in connection with the killingThe development was confirmed by the Indian Consulate General in Toronto which expressed shock and grief over the incidentIn a post on X the Consulate said We are deeply saddened and shocked by the murder of Ms Himanshi Khurana a young Indian national in Toronto We extend our deepest condolences to her bereaved family during this moment of profound griefThe Consulate further stated that officials have been closely following the matter over the past few days and that all possible assistance is being extended to the family in close coordination with Canadian authoritiesAccording to the Toronto Police officers were first alerted late Friday night after receiving a report of a missing personOn Friday December 19 2025 at approximately 1041 pm police responded to a call for a Missing Person in the Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street West area police said in a statementThe following morning officers made the grim discoveryOn Saturday December 20 2025 at approximately 630 am officers located the missing female deceased inside a residence police said adding that the death was being treated as a homicidePolice confirmed that the victim and the suspect were known to each otherInvestigators said the case appears to involve intimate partner violence CBC News reported quoting police sourcesAbdul Ghafoori is wanted on a Canadawide warrant for firstdegree murder a charge that can carry a sentence of life imprisonment without parole if premeditation and intent are established in courtThe investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue efforts to locate and arrest the suspectFurther details are awaited IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/indian-origin-woman-murdered-in-toronto-manhunt-underway-for-suspect-655455.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:06:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-warn-public-charge-rule-risks-h-1b-green-cards-655460.html Washington Dec 24 A group of 127 US lawmakers has urged the Trump Administration to withdraw its proposed overhaul of the public charge rule asserting that this would inject uncertainty into the legal immigration system particularly for those families who are moving from H1B visas to Green Cards As many as 110 Congressmen and 17 Senators in a letter called on the Department of Homeland Security to abandon the proposal and retain the existing 2022 public charge regulations arguing that the current framework provides clarity fairness and consistency for immigrant families and adjudicatorsThe proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country and undue harm to US citizens the lawmakers said in their letter dated December 19 a copy of which was released on TuesdayThe letter was led in the House by Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat Democratic Womens Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernandez Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke and Rep Robert Menendez and in the Senate by Senators Mazie Hirono Alex Padilla and Cory BookerThree Indian American Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal signed the letterThe Trump administration proposal would rescind the clear 2022 public charge regulations and replace them with what lawmakers described as vague and undefined standards leaving future determinations to shifting policy and interpretive toolsThe letter warns that such an approach would invite arbitrary decisionmaking create fear among immigrant families and erode trust in the legal immigration systemIn the letter the lawmakers said that by discarding the existing framework without establishing a lawful replacement the proposal would create immediate uncertainty for families seeking adjustment of status including refugees survivors of domestic violence or trafficking and children who have been abused neglected or abandoned groups Congress has long sought to shield from punitive public charge treatmentThe chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are welldocumented and severe the lawmakers wrote Research shows that confusion around past public charge restrictions led large numbers of eligible immigrant families including those with US citizen children to forgo health insurance nutrition supports and early childhood programs vital to healthy development they saidThe letter argues that the proposal contradicts longstanding interpretations of the Immigration and Nationality Act and risks discriminatory and uneven application of the law Lawmakers also raised concerns that DHS could rely on undefined or potentially unlawful datasharing practices with other government agencies further undermining transparency and accountability in immigration adjudicationsMembers warned that feardriven policies would not only harm immigrant households but also shift costs to state and local governments Reduced participation in preventive healthcare and nutrition programs they said would likely increase uncompensated emergency care worsen child health outcomes and strain public health systemsThe concerns outlined in the letter have particular resonance for employmentbased immigrants who face lengthy waits for permanent residency a group dominated by Indian nationals navigating the H1Btogreencard processFor Indian nationals who account for the largest share of employmentbased green card backlogs the warning about mass uncertainty is especially significant Many Indian professionals remain on H1B or other temporary visas for extended periods often well over a decade while waiting for permanent residency raising UScitizen children along the wayLawmakers said ambiguity over how DHS might assess past or lawful use of benefits could discourage families from seeking assistance they are legally entitled to receive IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/us-lawmakers-warn-public-charge-rule-risks-h-1b-green-cards-655460.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:10:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-national-charged-in-killing-of-us-guardsman-655462.html Washington Dec 24 The US authorities have filed federal charges against a 29yearold Afghan national in connection with the shooting that killed National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in the nationâs capital Rahmanullah Lakanwal who resided in Bellingham Washington was charged in a criminal complaint in US District Court with transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony and with transporting a stolen firearm across state lines according to an announcement by US Attorney Jeanine Ferris PirroâThe transfer of this case from Superior Court to District Court ensures that we can undertake the serious deliberate and weighty analysis required to determine if the death penalty is appropriate hereâ Pirro said âSarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old when she was killed and her parents are now forced to endure the holiday season without their daughter Andrew Wolfe by the grace of God survived but has a long road ahead in his recoveryâLakanwal also remains charged under the District of Columbia Code with firstdegree murder while armed assault with intent to kill while armed and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violenceAccording to court documents Lakanwal allegedly drove his Toyota Prius from Washington State to the District of Columbia while in possession of a stolen firearm Investigators say that on November 26 at about 213 pm he opened fire without provocation near the intersection of 17th and I Streets NW close to the Farragut West Metro StationBeckstrom and Wolfe both in full National Guard uniform and on duty were shot in the head during the attack Two National Guard majors who were nearby returned fire and subdued the suspect authorities saidA 357 Smith amp Wesson revolver recovered at the scene had been reported stolen in Seattle in 2023 investigators saidBeckstrom succumbed to her injuries the following day Thanksgiving November 27 Wolfe was critically injured in the ambush and survivedAn affidavit filed in support of the federal complaint outlines a series of events leading up to the shooting Investigators say Lakanwal obtained the revolver through an intermediary who told authorities he believed the firearm was for personal protection The weapon was fully loaded with five rounds at the time of the transfer according to the affidavitThe firearm was traced to a lawful purchase in Washington State in 2007 The original owner died in 2023 and the gun was later reported stolenCourt records state that after acquiring the revolver Lakanwal purchased additional ammunition at a sporting goods store in Bellingham on November 15 That same day he searched âWashington DCâ on Google Maps followed the next day by a search for âThe White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington DC 20500âLicense plate reader data and cellphone location records cited in the affidavit show Lakanwal travelling east from Washington State through Idaho and Illinois before arriving in Washington days before the shootingSurveillance video reviewed by investigators shows Lakanwal standing outside the Farragut West Metro station moments before the attack then running toward the intersection and opening fire at the two guardsmen the affidavit statesBeckstrom and Wolfe were members of the West Virginia National Guard who had been deputised the day before the shooting as Special Deputy US Marshals to protect federal property and support law enforcement operations in the capitalThe investigation is being conducted by the FBIâs Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department The case is being prosecuted by the US Attorneyâs Office for the District of ColumbiaThe federal charges come amid an expanded National Guard deployment in Washington where Guard members have been assisting law enforcement in patrolling transit hubs federal buildings and downtown corridors following concerns over violent crime IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/afghan-national-charged-in-killing-of-us-guardsman-655462.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:12:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-police-arrest-663-people-in-24-hours-under-op-devil-hunt-2-655480.html Dhaka Dec 24 At least 663 people were arrested by Bangladesh police across the country in 24 hours as part of Operation Devil Hunt Phase2 a nationwide crackdown launched to restore law and order and recover illegal firearms local media reported citing a senior police official Confirming the development Assistant InspectorGeneral Media amp Public Relations of Bangladesh Police Headquarters AHM Shahadat Hossain said that 663 people were taken into custody and nine firearms were recovered during the last 24 hours of the operationAs part of routine nationwide police operations 26881 motorcycles and 26573 vehicles were searched resulting in the seizure of 342 illegal motorcycles during the drive Bangladeshi leading daily Dhaka Tribune reportedLast week under Operation Devil Hunt Phase2 police reportedly arrested at least 4232 people across the countryBangladeshs interim government on December 13 decided to roll out the second phase of Operation Devil Hunt Phase2 across the country citing the need to prevent subversive activities using illegal arms ahead of the February 2026 elections the local media reportedAddressing journalists in Dhaka the interim governments Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced the decision following a core committee meeting on the law and order situationThe meeting was held a day after the gun attack on Sharif Osman Hadi spokesperson of the radical platform Inqilab ManchaOperation Devil Hunt was first launched throughout the country earlier this year following an incident on February 7 when 1516 students were attacked at the home of former Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel HaqueCiting human rights organisation Mandhaka Sanskriti Foundation MSF the countrys leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo reported that 11313 people were arrested in Operation Devil Hunt across Bangladesh from February 8 to February 28The report noted that most of the arrested people were members of the previous Awami League government highlighting the intensifying crackdown on the partyBangladesh has witnessed an alarming rise in violence and growing political vendetta under the Muhammad Yunusled interim governmentLast month Awami League accused the Yunus government of conspiring to push the people of the country towards an uncertain future warning that a new form of mob terrorism has emerged as an organised terror tacticSlamming the Yunus regime the party stated that since the illegal usurpers seized power incidents of murder rape theft robbery looting and mugging have sharply increased across the country IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/bangladesh-police-arrest-663-people-in-24-hours-under-op-devil-hunt-2-655480.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:26:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/radical-rule-book-circulated-in-bangladesh-brands-cooperation-with-india-as-betrayal-655491.html New Delhi Dec 24 Ties with Bangladesh which have been strained since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina worsened with radical mobs targeting the minority Hindus in the country Over the last week one got to witness gutwrenching scenes whereby the minority community in the country was brutally targeted In addition violence broke out at Indian missions following which New Delhi lodged strong protests The violence has been largely fanned by ISIbacked radical elements who are hellbent upon ruining ties with India which happens to be Dhakaâs most consequential neighbourIndian Intelligence agencies have learnt that there is a sustained online campaign that is on which is not letting the violence die down Violence erupted following the shooting of two student leaders The ISIbacked channels took advantage of this and successfully managed to turn this into an antiIndia campaignThe online campaign primarily focuses on an antiIndia stance Right from the shooting of the students to the floods in Bangladesh a sustained narrative has been set whereby India is being blamed The same is the case when it comes to politics in the country and India is blamed for the instability in Bangladesh on online platformsAn official said that ISI has tasked the radical elements attached or affiliated with the JamaateIslami to run this campaign When the floods hit Bangladesh radical channels pushed a narrative in which it was claimed that India released the water to destroy Bangladesh The agenda was pushed so hard that many in Bangladesh bought this narrative and developed hate against IndiaInvestigators in Bangladesh say there is an Awami League hand behind the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi Following the murder the online propaganda focused entirely on how the leader of the alleged killers Sheikh Hasina was being shielded by New DelhiIndian agencies have also found material where a conspiracy theory was doing the rounds where India was being blamed for the killing Many claimed that the Indian agencies had helped the Awami League to carry out the murder to avenge the ouster of Sheikh Hasina This led to the violence and the targeting of Indian interests in Bangladesh as well as the minority community officials sayISIbacked elements have also come up with a rule book for the people of Bangladesh to follow The radical mob specifically targets those who do not follow this rule book officials have learnt The people are being told to believe that cooperating with India amounts to betrayal of BangladeshFurther every crisis in the country should be blamed on India If one has to be called a patriot then he or she must oppose India the rule book being circulated online also statesSocial media platforms such as Facebook X Instagram and Threads are flooded with antiIndia material and this rule book which is the primary cause for the violence that has erupted and refuses to die down Indian agencies say that there are plenty of posts regarding the election and how India is trying to interfere in itThese posts also speak about Indiaâs socalled interference in Bangladeshâs affairs Further there is plenty of content around the Northeast It says that the Seven Sisters must separate as this would solve the flood problem in Bangladesh Indian officials have rubbished this claim and say that this is a plot by Pakistan to ensure that every Bangladeshi is completely antiIndiaIf the ISI manages to achieve this then it can further its agenda in the country with much ease and no public opposition An Intelligence Bureau official says that these handles are not necessarily being run from Bangladesh alone Most of these handles are traced to Pakistan and Gulf nationsThe ISIâs online propaganda wing which is based in Karachi controls these handles The ISI has deployed the same wing that spreads fake messages to incite tensions in India This is the same unit which has also been found to be behind the large number of honeytrap cases reported in IndiaBangladesh watchers say these are clear attempts to provoke India New Delhi has to tread carefully in the runup to the elections in Bangladesh scheduled to be held in February There is a need to keep engaging even before the elections are heldHowever New Delhiâs worry is that even if things improve on the diplomatic front the mindset of the people is fast changing due to this sustained fake narrative that the radical elements have pushedOfficials say that the ISI is trying to create a Pakistanlike situation in Bangladesh whereby the sentiment of the people is to hate India Another official says better sense should prevail and the people should understand the importance of ties with India rather than being held hostage by a fake social media narrative that is only antiIndia IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/radical-rule-book-circulated-in-bangladesh-brands-cooperation-with-india-as-betrayal-655491.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:39:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-childbirths-rise-for-16th-consecutive-month-in-october-data-655494.html Seoul Dec 24 The number of babies born increased for the past 16 consecutive months as of October but the pace of growth slowed to the lowest since the start of this year government data showed on Wednesday A total of 21958 babies were born in October up 25 per cent from a year earlier according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Data and Statistics Yonhap News Agency reportedIt marked the 16th consecutive month of increase since July 2024 but also the slowest onyear growth of the year the data showedCumulative childbirths through October stood at 212998 up 65 per cent onyear marking the highest pace of growth for the cited period since 1991 the agency saidThe total number of babies born over the 10month period however was the third lowest after 2024 and 2023The countrys total fertility rate or the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime went up 002 yearonyear to 081By age group the birthrate was the highest for women aged 30 to 34The number of marriages in October came to 19586 up 02 per cent onyear During the first 10 months of the year a total of 195764 marriages were reported marking the highest in seven yearsShould this trend continue the ministry expects the annual marriage numbers to increase for the third consecutive yearThe number of divorces in October was 7478 up 24 per cent yearoveryearIn October 29739 people died down 03 per cent from a year agoDespite the increase in the number of births the entire population declined by 7781 in October as more deaths were reported than birthsThe South Korean population has been on a downward trend since November 2019 according to the data IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-koreas-childbirths-rise-for-16th-consecutive-month-in-october-data-655494.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:41:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/railway-track-damaged-after-bomb-explodes-in-pakistans-balochistan-655504.html Quetta Dec 24 A portion of the railway track was damaged after a bomb planted on the track exploded near Dera Murad Jamali in Pakistans Balochistan while police defused another explosive device local media reported on Wednesday Police said miscreants had planted an improvised explosive device IED on the main railway track near the Notal area of Nasirabad district The device exploded before the Jaffar Express heading from Peshawar to Quetta reached the site on Tuesday Pakistans leading daily Dawn reportedA section of the track was damaged after the explosion forcing the suspension of train servicesRailway officials halted the Jaffar Express at Dera Murad Jamali and suspended train services between Quetta and other areas until the tracks are fully repairedAfter the blast a heavy contingent of police the bomb disposal squad and security forces reached the site and started a search operation to find those involved in the incidentEarlier in November the Jaffar Express was attacked in the Bolan Pass area of Pakistans Balochistan Railway officials said the Jaffar Express was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when the armed men targeted the train Dawn reportedAccording to railway officials armed men opened fire at the train when it reached near AabiGum Security personnel including Railway police travelling on the train retaliatedHowever the attackers escaped from the site after a brief exchange of fire with security personnel According to railway officials no casualty was reported in the shootingOn October 7 at least seven people were injured after a blast targeted the Quettabound Jaffar Express in the Shikarpur district of Sindh according to officialsShikarpur Deputy Commissioner Shakeel Abro said that a blast took place on the train tracks at 815 am local time on October 7According to him the blast happened at a distance of one kilometre from the Sultan Kot railway station Abro said that seven people were injured in the incidentEarlier this year the Jaffar Express passenger train on its way from Quetta to Peshawar was hijacked by the Baloch Liberation Armys BLA Majeed Brigade and over 400 people were taken as hostagesThe train was forced to come to a halt on March 11 after blowing off the track in the Dhabar area of Bolan Pass in BalochistanSecurity forces and the railway authorities had confirmed that the train had come under attack near Tunnel No 8 of the Bolan PassThe standoff ended after more than 24 hours The BLA claimed to have killed at least 20 of the abducted security personnel after checking their IDs IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/railway-track-damaged-after-bomb-explodes-in-pakistans-balochistan-655504.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:48:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-iran-deport-over-3-000-afghan-refugees-in-single-day-taliban-655511.html Kabul Dec 24 More than 3000 Afghan refugees have been repatriated from Iran and Pakistan in a single day a Taliban official said on Wednesday Sharing the High Commission for Addressing Migrantsâ Issues on X Taliban deputy spokesperson Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat stated that 693 families comprising 3610 people returned to Afghanistan on Tuesday Pajhwok Afghan News reportedAfghan returnees travelled to Afghanistan through several border crossings including Torkham in Nangarhar Islam Qala in Herat PuliAbresham in Nimroz Spin Boldak in Kandahar and Bahramcha in HelmandFitrat said that 752 families comprising 3096 people were taken to their respective home areas while 411 families were provided humanitarian assistance Furthermore telecommunication firms provided 645 SIM cards to Afghan returneesHe revealed that 2167 Afghan migrants were deported from Pakistan and Iran on MondayEarlier in November several Afghan refugees in Pakistan said that they had been overwhelmed by continuous pressure from the countrys police which apart from conducting searches was arresting people and exploiting their vulnerable situation as a source of incomeA report in an Afghan newspaper 8 AM Media also known as HashteSubh Daily highlighted that Afghan refugees in Pakistan do not have basic human rights and live in constant fear and anxietyHuman rights groups and refugeesupport groups have remained silent regarding the uncertainty and the governments failure to fulfil its commitment to human rights and the protection of refugeesOver the past few months as tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan continue Islamabad has increased its pressure on Afghan refugees with the Pakistani forces conducting widespread harassment of migrants each day in various areas including IslamabadApart from official operations involving the arrest of Afghan refugees without visas people in plain clothes extort money from migrants in residential areas Afghan people have said that they live in inhumane conditions filled with fear and anxiety and their refugee rights are not respectedThe situation is extremely distressing I wish the official operations team would simply arrest and take people away This method is not right the police know no one will report them so they come individually for searches Several men in plain clothes lie in wait in the neighbourhood grab someone and take them away It is unclear whether they are police thieves or cooperating with the police Now even if an ordinary person commits theft or kidnapping under the name of the police people assume he is a police officer the report quoted an Afghan national as sayingThese individuals detain migrants in their personal vehicles some are released on the spot after paying money while others are taken to police posts They are probably police themselves or collaborating with the police The level of theft and robbery is extremely high and no institution hears the peoples voices The situation is deeply painful a country that has no defender and whose citizens have no protection or credibility anywhere in the world the refugee added IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-iran-deport-over-3-000-afghan-refugees-in-single-day-taliban-655511.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 16:57:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-patients-suffer-as-govt-hospitals-face-shortage-of-medicines-lack-diagnostic-facilities-655527.html Islamabad Dec 24 Government hospitals in the city of Hyderabad in Pakistans Sindh province continue to struggle to provide even the basic healthcare facilities to patients due to acute shortage of medicines diagnostic facilities and functional medical equipment majorly due to alleged poor oversight by officials of the health department local media reported on Wednesday As per reports Civil Hospital Hyderabad and all taluka hospitals in the city do not have essential medicines Patients are unable to undergo routine laboratory tests at talukalevel facilities due to lack of basic machinery resulting in patients being forced to undergo treatment in private hospitals and laboratories where they are asked to pay thousands of rupees for preliminary checkups leading Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reportedThe situation has deteriorated to the extent that the trauma centre constructed on Hala Naka Road has remained nonoperational causing burden on Civil Hospital Hyderabad where patients come in large numbers for treatment from across Sindh However Civil Hospital itself is having nonoperational equipment and inadequate treatment facilitiesCurrently Civil Hospital Hyderabad has only one MRI and one CT scan machine operational while other diagnostic machines have remained nonoperational for months Situation at taluka hospitals in Hyderabad is reportedly worse as facilities like Sindh Government Bhittai Hospital Latifabad Government Hospital Qasimabad Kohsar Hospital Latifabad Government Hospital Pretabad and Government Hospital Hali Road and several basic health units lack testing facilities and essential medicines the newspaper report detailedEarlier this month another report revealed that Pakistan with a sharp increase in HIV cases is ranked second among nations in the AsiaPacific The deepening HIV crisis in Pakistan is not only a medical emergency but also demonstrates institutional rot and showcases the consequences of years of neglect the failure to implement basic health standards and the human cost of corruptionThe shocking statistics highlighted the use of contaminated syringes unregulated blood transfusions fake doctors and violations of medical rules Health officials have reported 3995 registered HIVpositive children in Sindh a figure that only represents documented cases according to a report in European Times Recently Sindhs Health Minister was briefed on what was described as an extremely alarming spread of HIV infections especially among children as per the reportAccording to the data more than 600000 fake doctors practice in Pakistan with 40 per cent of them based in Karachi The figure demonstrates the deepening medical malpractice crisis in Pakistan With insufficient oversight these fake doctors operate freely reusing syringes mishandling blood and conducting unsafe procedures that further increase the spread of HIVThe few HIV treatment centres that are present in Pakistan face shortages of testing kits antiretroviral medicines and trained staff resulting in diagnosis and treatment delay Patients often suffer as they have to move from one hospital to another in search of basic carePakistanâs deepening HIV crisis is more than a medical emergency it is a reflection of institutional rot It exposes the consequences of years of neglect the failure to enforce basic health standards and the human cost of corruption The tragedy of nearly 4000 HIVpositive children in Sindh the epidemic of quack doctors and the routine use of contaminated medical tools together form a damning indictment of the stateâs indifference This is not a story of a virus spreading silently it is a story of systemic failure that allows the virus to thrive the European Times report detailed IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/pakistan-patients-suffer-as-govt-hospitals-face-shortage-of-medicines-lack-diagnostic-facilities-655527.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:04:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-pledges-to-enhance-support-for-patients-with-rare-diseases-655535.html Seoul Dec 24 South Korean President Lee Jae Myung met on Wednesday with patients suffering from rare diseases and their families and promised to enhance government support so they can receive the necessary medical treatment without excessive financial burden Lee visited the Heavy Ion Therapy Research Institute at Yonsei Cancer Center in western Seoul which offers cuttingedge cancer treatment on Christmas Eve as part of his outreach to the socially vulnerable group Yonhap News Agency reportedEnsuring treatment for patients suffering rare diseases is not something individuals can easily bear on their own he saidLee acknowledged that patients with rare conditions often receive less attention and support because of their small numbers despite the governments efforts to enhance medical services for themEvery life is precious he said Its not right that people are left behind disadvantaged or isolated simply because they are few This is a difficult issueAlthough the government has prepared policies to improve treatment diagnosis and welfare support Lee admitted that some measures have yet to be implemented or remain insufficientDuring the visit accompanied by Health Minister Jeong Eunkyeong Lee said he would collect feedback from patients and their families to improve services for themPatients with rare diseases often face heavy financial burdens and difficulties obtaining imported medicines due to regulatory hurdlesMeanwhile Lee Jae Myung apologised to victims of toxic humidifier disinfectants blamed for deaths and diseases involving thousands of people saying the government will define the case as a social disasterIn 2011 sales of such toxic sterilisers were suspended as health authorities announced they could cause lung diseases A special law was enacted in 2017 to compensate victims and 5942 people were formally recognised as victims as of last monthIt was too late Lee said in a Facebook posting adding he conveys condolences and consolation to the victims and their familiesIn 2017 thenPresident Moon Jaein apologised to the victims but Lees apology came as the government announced comprehensive measures to compensate and support the victims earlier in the dayLast year a court recognised the states liability to compensate humidifier disinfectant victims or their bereaved families for the first timeThe case gained attention after four pregnant women died of lung disease for unknown reasons in 2011It is hard to fathom how unjust and devastating it must have been to live in a reality where no one was held accountable Lee saidWe will fundamentally review the entire system and management framework to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again Lee said stressing the states responsibility to protect peoples lives and safety IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korean-president-pledges-to-enhance-support-for-patients-with-rare-diseases-655535.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:14:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-indicts-ex-president-yoon-over-free-opinion-polls-655538.html Seoul Dec 24 A special counsel team indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday on charges of receiving dozens of opinion poll results for free in violation of the Political Funds Act Special counsel Min Joongkis team announced the indictment in a notice to the press saying it also indicted Myung Taekyun a selfproclaimed power broker on charges of providing the opinion polls to YoonYoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee have been accused of receiving the results of 58 opinion polls worth 270 million won US186000 between June 2021 and March 2022 when Yoon won the presidential election Yonhap News Agency reportedKim has already been indicted on the same charge and is set to receive the courts verdict on January 28The special counsel team had investigated suspicions that the free opinion polls were in exchange for the presidential couples help with securing candidate nominations for the June 2022 parliamentary byelectionsThose allegations were not listed in the indictment and will likely be transferred to the police for further investigation if a conclusion is not reached by the end of the teams term SundayOn December 20 Yoon Suk Yeol appeared before a special counsel team to undergo questioning as a suspect over corruption allegations linked to his wife Kim Keon HeeIt marked the jailed former presidents first appearance before special counsel Min Joongkis team which launched in July to investigate corruption and other allegations surrounding the exfirst ladyYoon is accused of being an accomplice to his wife when she allegedly received opinion polls worth 270 million won 183000 for free from a selfproclaimed power broker and when she allegedly accepted a painting worth 140 million won from a former prosecutorHe is also suspected of violating the Public Official Election Act for allegedly speaking a falsehood about his wife during a 2021 debate when he was a presidential candidateMins team is also looking into whether Yoon was involved in Kims alleged acceptance of luxury gifts from others including Lee Baeyong former head of the National Education Commission in exchange for favorsWhen asked by reporters about whether Yoon was aware of Kims acceptance of luxury gifts his lawyer said the former president was completely unaware IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/south-korea-special-counsel-indicts-ex-president-yoon-over-free-opinion-polls-655538.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:16:00 +0530 https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-two-police-personnel-killed-in-moscow-explosion-655539.html Moscow Dec 24 Three people including two police personnel were killed in an explosion in Moscow on Wednesday according to the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee local media reported According to the investigators two traffic police officers saw a suspicious person near their patrol car on Yeletskaya Street in Moscow in the morning hours of Wednesday Russias leading news agency Tass reported As the police personnel approached to arrest the person an explosive exploded As a result two police personnel and the suspicious person were killed in the explosionEmergency services investigators and forensic experts have started conducting probe at the site of the incident The Moscow Department of the Russian Interior Ministry said that all the necessary assistance will be provided to the families of the victimsOn Monday head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov died from injuries after an explosive device planted under a car was detonated on Yasenevaya Street in southern Moscow local media reportedRussian security agencies have been investigating various theories one of which is linked to involvement of Ukrainian intelligence services after the killing of Lieutenant General Sarvarov in a car explosion in MoscowVarious theories regarding the murder are being investigated One of them is linked to Ukrainian intelligence services The Moscow Prosecutors Office is overseeing the investigation into the circumstances of the incident Investigators and forensic experts from the Investigative Committee are working at the scene of the emergency several examinations are expected including forensic and explosive examinations Investigators are questioning witnesses and eyewitnesses and studying CCTV footage The progress of the investigation has been placed under the control of the Investigative Committees central office Tass news agency reportedSarvarov had been heading the Operational Training Department of the Russian Armed Forces since 2016 He was awarded the Order of Courage the Suvorov Medal and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland 2nd and 1st degree IANS https://dailyworld.in/international/russia-two-police-personnel-killed-in-moscow-explosion-655539.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 19:17:00 +0530