As Myanmar’s military rulers prepare to stage a nationwide election later this month, civilians in rebel‑held regions are facing a devastating escalation of air strikes, ground offensives, and forced displacement. For thousands of families, survival—not voting—has become the priority, as many flee across borders to escape bombing campaigns and what they describe as a fraudulent

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Myanmar is holding a highly controversial election this week, orchestrated by the military junta that seized power nearly five years ago. With the National League for Democracy (NLD) dissolved and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi imprisoned, the vote is widely regarded as a sham, marred by intimidation, civil conflict, and restricted access in many

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Thailand and Cambodia have announced an immediate ceasefire, ending nearly three weeks of intense clashes along their long-disputed border. The announcement came from the defence ministers of both countries during a joint statement at a border checkpoint in Chanthaburi province, Thailand. The ceasefire, which took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, freezes

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Turkish authorities have detained 115 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State (IS) group as part of a major operation targeting planned attacks on Christmas and New Year events across Turkey. The arrests came following a series of coordinated raids in Istanbul, where law enforcement officials also seized firearms, ammunition, and organisational documents. Mass Raids

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet former US President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday, as discussions continue over a potential peace plan to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky aims to focus on a US-brokered peace plan, as well as separate proposals regarding US security guarantees, while Russia has indicated that

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Michael Vaughan Criticises ‘Unfair’ MCG Pitch After Wicket-Frenzied Ashes DayFormer England captain Michael Vaughan has labelled the pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as “unfair” after an extraordinary opening day of the fourth Ashes Test saw batters struggle severely in conditions heavily favouring bowlers. A staggering 20 wickets fell on day one of the

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The White House is reportedly preparing to advance the Gaza ceasefire process to its second phase in January 2026, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resistance is creating tensions with US President Donald Trump’s senior team. According to Israeli media, these disagreements could affect the timing of key initiatives, including the potential establishment of a

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been found guilty of abuse of power and money laundering by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in his second major trial linked to the infamous 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. The ruling, delivered on Friday, adds a new chapter to a saga that has

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Gaza City, Gaza — In a remarkable act of resilience, 168 Palestinian doctors have received their advanced medical certifications amid the ruins of al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest healthcare facility, which has been largely destroyed during Israel’s war. The graduation ceremony, held on Thursday, December 25, 2025, took place in front of the hospital’s destroyed facade,

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Dhaka, Bangladesh — After more than 17 years in self-imposed exile in London, Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to Bangladesh on Thursday, igniting massive rallies and renewed political energy ahead of the February 2026 national elections. The son of former Prime Minister and critically ill BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia,

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